This award highlights the ‘collective efforts of our 50 member groups, allied organizations and residents across the region who care deeply about the future of our water’
NEWS RELEASE
SIMCOE COUNTY GREENBELT COALITION
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This week, the Simcoe County Greenbelt Coalition (SCGC) was honored with the Watershed Guardian of the Year Award from the Ontario Headwaters Institute.
We feel privileged to receive this award as it recognizes the combined efforts of our 50 member groups, allied organizations, and residents in the area who truly care about the future of our water.
With municipal elections coming up on October 26, candidates in your area are seeking your support. The concerns raised by SCGC and the Ontario Headwaters Institute focus on whether we have sufficient evidence to make sustainable decisions that benefit people, places, and prosperity simultaneously. This is why we have asked over 300 candidates in our community to sign on to the Community Leaders for a Sustainable Simcoe pledge. It’s a public commitment to making transparent decisions that include water security, local economies, food production, and community health.
You might wonder why water security matters.
The truth is, a friend, family member or local business you rely on probably depends on groundwater. In fact, around 90% of municipalities in this region depend on groundwater to some extent. Most of us can agree that we want clean and abundant water from our taps and wells.
The Ontario Headwaters Institute has pointed out concerns regarding how watersheds are managed across Ontario and has urged stronger consideration for municipal decisions affecting our water supply. They’ve also identified Simcoe County as one of six regions where watersheds face risks due to heavy reliance on groundwater paired with limited understanding of how this system operates.
Think about managing a household budget. You wouldn’t make major financial choices without knowing your income, expenses, and savings. Yet we still have crucial questions about how much groundwater is available, how quickly it’s being used up, and how fast those supplies can be replenished. It’s reasonable to expect governments to keep track of our water resources just like households do with their finances.
Finding ways to generate more money can be tricky. But finding ways to create more clean water deep underground is impossible.
We need local leaders willing to demand all necessary information, examine every detail, and consider all costs involved.
A collaborative effort between municipalities, residents, and community organizations will be essential in advocating for provincial and federal investments needed to enhance scientific understanding and monitoring related to these decisions so that we’re not jeopardizing our water resources.
So before casting your vote in October, engage with your candidates about their positions. What commitments have they made publicly? How will those commitments affect your access to clean water?
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