NEW BILL TO MAKE ONTARIO FIRST PROVINCE TO RESTRICT BOTTLED WATER

For Immediate Release:

Environmentalists and University Students Launch “Message in a Bottle” Campaign in Support

TORONTO, October 29, 2009 – Today NDP MPP Peter Tabuns (Toronto-Danforth) submitted a new Private Members Bill – Bottled Water Spending Act, 2009 – to restrict government spending on bottled water. If passed, the Bill would make Ontario the first province in Canada to restrict bottled water.

At a press conference to announce the Bill, environmentalists joined with university students to launch a new “Message in a Bottle” campaign in support of its passage. The campaign kicked off with the delivery of 107 empty bottles of Nestle Pure Life stuffed with a message to every MPP.

“Bottled water may serve a purpose in situations where potable drinking water is not available, or in certain emergency situations, but it is not a substitute for the tap nor is it a long-term solution,” says Richard Girard, Research Coordinator of the Polaris Institute.

If passed the Bottled Water Spending Act, 2009 would require every branch and body of government to ensure that where potable water is readily available, public funds are not used to purchase bottled water.
“On the heels of the announcement that the Government of Canada has spent more than $15 million on bottled water in the last five years, it’s time for Ontario to take a stand and stop this wasteful and unnecessary use of public money,” explains NDP MPP Peter Tabuns.

Canadian Bottled Water Statistics:
-71 municipalities from 8 provinces and 1 territory have banned bottled water
-35 universities have established bottled water free zones
-2 universities have banned bottled water
-6 school board have implemented restrictions on bottled water
-Since 2004 the Government of Canada has spent $15.6 million dollars on bottled water

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For more information contact:
Peter Tabuns, MPP Toronto-Danforth, 416 325-3250
Richard Girard, Polaris Institute, 613-237-1717 x105, Richard@polarisinstitute.org [1]