Statement by Rebecca Kolarich, Water Program Manager
Toronto | Traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat – Water privatization is a bad idea with messy consequences. Municipalities, including Hamilton, Ontario, have tried privatization before, with disastrous environmental and financial outcomes. The province should learn from history’s mistakes and ensure this never happens again. Instead, it’s fast tracking Ontarians toward another disastrous conclusion.
The proposed Water and Wastewater Public Corporations Act, shoehorned inside omnibus Bill 60, paves a dangerous path toward water privatization. While the province insists this is not the case, the Bill has all the elements of water privatization, leaving potential safeguards to be determined in not-yet-released regulations.
These changes are yet another example of Premier Ford’s privatization agenda—prioritizing corporate interests over essential public services. Water is a human right. We can’t sit back and allow this government to make it a commodity.
Background Information
The Water and Wastewater Public Corporations Act, 2025 under Bill 60 would allow the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing to designate corporations under the Business Corporations Act to provide water and sewage services for certain lower-tier municipalities.
ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.
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For more information or to request an interview, please contact:
Brittany Harris, Environmental Defence, media@environmentaldefence.ca
