Water bill enters second reading debate
Standing Committee on General Government
November 21, 2002
Sustainable Water and Sewage Systems Act, 2002. Safe Drinking Water Act, 2002. OPSEU's presentation.;
Press Releases
October 29, 2002
Ontario’s long-awaited water legislation, tabled Tuesday, is a step in the right direction, but will be meaningless if there aren’t the people to breathe life into it.
May 24, 2002 - OPSEU calls for implementation plan for Walkerton Inquiry recommendations
May 17, 2002
Hiring of water inspectors should only be the first step in rebuilding the public service -
Union warns of quick fix on Water
Article from The Toronto Star
March 1, 2002 Temporary hirings and arbitrary workload limits are evidence the province has failed to learn the lessons of the tainted water tragedy in Walkerton, the Ontario Public Service Employees Union says.
The Challenge of the Walkerton Inquiry Part I Report: Permanent Solutions for a New MOE
February 22, 2002 Workers in the public service, and others who are committed to rebuilding the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) and the Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA), welcome the findings of Mr. Justice Dennis O’Connor. We are now eager to participate in the
implementation of his recommendations to create a permanent plan to protect our environment and human health. Download .pdf 
The Pipeline bulletins
| May 31, 2002 - Issue 16 Justice O'Connor's second report from the Walkerton Inquiry is a win for Ontario's citizens and the environment. It also counts as a victory for OPSEU because it emphasizes the importance of the public
service in protecting drinking water, from source to tap. The report adopts many of the ideas and recommendations put forward by OPSEU in our 12 submissions to the Inquiry. |
| March 5, 2002 - Issue 15 OPSEU report on MOE hits media | Clement: Inquiry said Walkerton deaths were inevitable | Health Ministry tried to cut water
funds from public health units: NDP |
| February 26, 2002 - Issue 14 New OPSEU research report finds that two years after the Walkerton tragedy the Conservative Government continues to put insufficient and temporary resources into MOE. |
| January 21, 2002 - Issue 13 Putting the government to the test at the bargaining table | Tell us how the government should implement O’Connor’s recommendations | Thank you
to MOE and OCWA staff for your contribution | Walkerton report highlights need to rebuild the public service | The Government shares responsibility | Budget cuts contributed to the tragedy | The Common Sense Revolution prevented the government
from enacting the necessary regulation | Cabinet failed to assess the risks and bears responsibility | Justice O’Connor’s comments on the state of the public service | Recommendations on the future of the Ontario Public Service (OPS) |
| January 17, 2002 - Issue 12 Premier should apologize to people of Walkerton for leak, says OPSEU ! OPSEU to respond to report when fully released ! Inquiry evidence points to need to rebuild the
public service ! Inquiry report recommending measures to protect drinking water due in March |
| July 5, 2001 - Issue 11 Premier Mike Harris' testimony lacked the ring of truth | Harris asked about OPSEU 1995 warning | Accountable but blameless - huh?! MOE staff receive warning notices | Have your say in Thunder Bay and Walkerton | Strengthen OCWA's role as public
water protector | OPSEU promotes the need for a stronger OCWA at roundtable meetings |
| June 25, 2001 - Issue 10 Premier Harris and former environment ministers testify this week | The key questions for Harris to answer | Highlights of the evidence heard to date at the Inquiry |
| June 14, 2001 - Issue 9 Premier Mike Harris to testify June 29 | Get prepared for meetings with Val Gibbons | Sterling asked to make notification amendment in 1997 | "It was a communications statement" |
| May 28, 2001 - Issue 8 First Tory Environment Minister warned of potential impacts of cuts | Paper trail of documents | Conclusions from the evidence so far | Former Deputy Minister to testify this week | OPSEU represented at environmental fair
in Walkerton | OPSEU participates in Walkerton Inquiry roundtables |
| May 17, 2001 - Issue 7 MOE staff recommends five ways to strengthen ministry | Inquiry highlights | Environment funding falls short |
| April 11, 2001 - Issue 6 MOE clarifies that employees are free to participate in Inquiry | Inquiry told "overwhelming challenge is workload" | Walkerton presentation honours 'public service in the highest tradition' | Hearings resume Thursday |
February 23, 2001 - Issue 5 Renewing the MOE Workshops start this week | Renewing the MOE project to receive funding | Two week delay at Inquiry examining the government’s role | Send in your concerns about the approvals process |
February 9, 2001 - Issue 4 OPSEU report to Inquiry will provide an alternative vision of the MOE | Next phase of Inquiry to look at government’s role | Elizabeth Witmer called best person to push through privatization of OCWA |
Walkerton is about more than the ineptitude of the Koebels |
December 20, 2000 - Issue 3 On-line survey for MOE members | Globe and Mail editorial calls for rebuilding the MOE | Procedure for Inquiry: Contact OPSEU’s legal counsel first | Framing the issues for Part 1B | Inquiry
transcripts now on-line |
November 30, 2000 - Issue 2 |
October 31, 2000 - Issue 1 |
OPSEU Commentary on Machinery of Government for Safe Drinking Water in Ontario (by Nicholas D'Ombrain).
Presentation to the Walkerton Inquiry's Town Hall meeting
OPSEU's closing submission to the Walkerton Inquiry,
- regarding the government's policies and actions which contributed to the Walkerton tragedy. August 28, 2001 82.07KB
OPSEU's submissions to the Walkerton Inquiry,
recommending the expansion of whistleblowing protection in environmental laws to protect public servants and supporting concerns raised by the Environmental Commissioner on the lack of a comprehensive ground
water protection policy. October 29, 2001 27.14KB
- recommending better regulations and standards for drinking water providers and recommending more resources and staff for the MOE and MOH laboratories. September 11, 2001 413.03KB
- recommending improvements to the way the Ontario government sets standards for drinking water quality.
August 30, 2001 103.85KB
- recommending improvements to the way Ontario regulates agricultural contaminants. August 28, 2001 44.13KB
- recommending improvements to the way Ontario protects source water. August 2, 2001 68.61KB
- Additional recommendations for protecting source water: September 11, 2001 125.53KB
- recommending what the guiding principles and the overall government role should be regarding safe drinking water. July 10, 2001 146.75KB
- recommending what the provincial government's functions and resources should be regarding safe drinking water. July 10, 2001 151.37KB
A Submission to the Walkerton Inquiry Public Interests in Water Facilities Operations
July 3, 2001 OPSEU’s paper to the Walkerton Inquiry on the key role the Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA) plays in providing safe drinking water to the people of Ontario and how the Harris government's privatization policies have undermined that role. 204.01KB
Renewing the Ministry of the Environment:
A submission by OPSEU to the Walkerton Inquiry makes recommendations on how to revitalize the MOE in order to prevent a repeat of the Walkerton tragedy. (Report divided into two sections for quicker download. .pdf files
Executive Summary 16,60KB
Report 231.06KB
Appendices 123.38KB
Renewing the MOE Survey
February 22, 2001 .pdf file This survey was sent out earlier this week to all OPSEU members in the MOE. It contains 10 questions and takes 20 to 30 minutes to complete.
OPSEU analysis of Val Gibbons report:
February 9, 2001
The report calls for the Ministry of Environment to do less and “delegate” more when it comes to protecting Ontario’s environment
Revised Outline of Issues for next phase of the Inquiry.
February 9, 2001: The Walkerton Inquiry has revised the list of issues that it will examine in the next phase of the Inquiry looking into "the effect, if any, of government policies, procedures and practices."
Procedure for Inquiry and Government to Follow When OPSEU Members Testify at Inquiry
December 12 letter .
.pdf file (10.93KB) to Commission Counsel and counsel to the Government of Ontario from Gowlings, the law firm representing OPSEU at the Walkerton Inquiry.
Rebuilding the system to protect our water up to us all
December 26, 2000: Op-ed article from Leah Casselman that was printed in the Toronto Star.
Public Health Labs Played Vital Role In Response To Walkerton Crisis
January 10, 2001: Includes an article written by an OPSEU member who is a technologist at one of the labs
OPSEU's Track record on water and whistleblowing
November 9, 2000 Our track record: OPSEU campaigns for the environment and whistle blowing protection.
Action Fax
Sept. 12, 2000 OPSEU wins standing at Walkerton Inquiry
Aug. 25, 2000 OPSEU applies for standing at Walkerton Inquiry
Aug. 17, 2000 Walkerton still needs our help
July 20, 2000 OPSEU to Request Standing at Walkerton Inquiry | Special meeting held with Walkerton members | Inquiry Requests Documents from Environment Ministry | Getting the Truth Out
June 16, 2000 Water Inquiry: OPSEU meets initial goals | Whistle-blowing victory | Next steps: participation | Next steps: keeping up the pressure
May 31, 2000 Time to pick up the phone: Tories try to limit scope of water inquiry | OPSEU member among the victims | Harris a no-show | Join the campaign: pick up the phone
Press Releases
August 8. 2000 New drinking water regulation meaningless without staff to enforce it: OPSEU
June 13, 2000 Whistleblower protection a positive step, OPSEU says
June 13, 2000 Privatization scheme “appalling”: Casselman
June 6, 2000 Public Inquiry must protect whistleblowers from reprisals, OPSEU says
May 31, 2000 “Common Sense” Tragedy exposes the depth of public service cuts
May 26, 2000 OPSEU calls for provincial control of water quality
OPSEU'S Submission on Standing
August 24, 2000 Application for standing in the Walkerton Inquiry
Links
The Walkerton Inquiry Website http://www.walkertoninquiry.com/
An Open Letter To Bill Murdoch, MPP
August 11, 2000 .pdf file (7.31KB)
OPSEU Home Page
