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National Observer
5 days ago
- Business
- National Observer
Ford government's proposed water rules will suck Ontario dry, critics say
The Ford government is facing backlash from advocates and water experts over proposed changes to Ontario's Water Resources Act that would remove key oversight and public input from the province's water-taking permit system. The changes would amend long-standing rules by allowing the transfer of these permits between companies if the new operator draws water from the same location, in the same amount and for the same purpose. The law requires a permit for any company taking more than 50,000 litres of water per day from lakes, rivers, streams or groundwater, for use in agriculture, gravel mining and water bottling. Under current rules, any permit transfer requires a new application, public review, environmental assessment and First Nations consultation. The proposed changes would remove all of these steps. Theresa McClenaghan, executive director of the Canadian Environmental Law Association, said large water-users are usually required to provide financial assurances in case they shut down and restoration is needed. With a permit transfer, it's unclear if those protections would still apply. McClenaghan said under the proposed changes, local communities wouldn't know the new company's environmental record — and if it had past violations, the public wouldn't be able to raise any concerns. 'Any reputable water-taker would want the confidence of the surrounding community and not be causing these impacts,' McClenaghan told Canada's National Observer. People should have the right to know whether a new operator has the technical skills and proper equipment to manage water-taking safely and avoid harming nearby properties or ecosystems, she added. Under current rules, any permit transfer requires a new application, public review, environmental assessment and First Nations consultation. The proposed changes would remove all of these steps. The province says the move is meant to 'streamline' the permitting process and reduce administrative delays. But McCenaghan says safety is more important than speed when issuing permits. Activities such as drilling for water, pumping from aquifers, or taking water from surface sources can have serious consequences for ecosystems and the people who depend on them. Water-taking in Ontario has previously sparked strong public backlash, especially around bottled water. A permit renewal for Nestlé's former bottling plant near Guelph drew thousands of public comments. Polling suggests that over 68 per cent of Ontarians — across all political affiliations — supported phasing out water bottling permits entirely. Jana Levison, an associate professor of water resources engineering at the University of Guelph, said Ontario's water systems are already under significant stress from climate change, land use changes, and population growth. She believes this makes it even more important to carefully assess water-taking permits. 'We need more analysis of cumulative water takings,' she said. 'Permits shouldn't be assessed in isolation — especially in high-use areas where water demand is already heavy.' Levison also raised concerns about gaps in Ontario's water-taking reporting system, saying the province still lacks a clear understanding of how much water is being extracted overall. McClenaghan says while the changes would benefit companies, they pose clear risks to local communities and the environment, and rushing the process puts these protections at risk. Water-taking permits often include conditions that require companies to reduce water use during droughts or if they interfere with nearby wells. In some cases, companies may be ordered to stop water-taking completely, she added. Permits often allow more water than a company uses. If a new operator starts using the full amount, it could cause greater environmental damage in some areas, she said. Operational changes, such as more truck traffic, longer hours or new routes, can affect local communities, and the public should be informed before any permit is transferred, she added. Ontario does not have a public record of how many companies currently hold water-taking permits, how many applications are in process — for new permits or transfers — or how much water is being taken each day. Canada's National Observer reached out to the Ontario Ministry of the Environment for comment but did not receive a response in time for publication. 'Water is for life, not for profit' More than 1,800 people have sent letters opposing the proposed changes through a campaign launched by Water Watchers. The group's executive director, Arlene Slocombe, has spent decades advocating for water protection. She says water-taking permits should not be treated as transferable assets. Living just 20 minutes from an area with multiple water-taking permits, including for sand in Guelph Ont., she's heard repeated concerns from residents about dropping well levels and industrial overuse of groundwater. With so many operations drawing water in one area, she says it's nearly impossible to pinpoint who is responsible. Slocombe warns that water is being taken faster than it can naturally recharge. 'That's why we believe the government should be tightening water-taking rules, not loosening them," she said. "If water levels are at risk, we need to prioritize which uses are essential." She sees the move as part of a broader pattern under the Ford government that weakens environmental oversight and cuts public input — as seen in Bill 5 and such proposed projects as Ontario Place and landfill expansions.
25-07-2025
- Health
Should the government assist low-income people with air conditioning?
Christena Abbott is a senior living in a highrise apartment in Toronto. On the day we spoke, the temperature was 31 C. It was the first of what ended up being a three-day heat wave. I have asthma, I'm diabetic, on insulin. I have six pinched nerves … and I cannot take heat at all, she said. Fortunately for Abbott, she has a portable air conditioner. I can't live without it, she added. But not everyone is as fortunate as Abbott. Low-income families living in multi-unit dwellings face the greatest challenges during heat waves and are by far the most affected. A 2024 study (new window) published in the journal Environmental Research: Health found that those living on income assistance were 2.4 times more likely to die during a heat wave during the B.C. heat dome of 2021. Ninety-eight per cent of the people who died during that event died indoors, said Jacqueline Wilson, counsel at the Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA). When you look at those findings, the lesson from that is tackling the indoor air temperature because that was found to be the way that people were most at risk. As fossil fuels continue to be released into the atmosphere, and the climate continues to warm, Canadians will be faced with more frequent and intense heat waves (new window) , but having access to air conditioning isn't equitable. Access to cooling … we've been thinking of it as a luxury…. But now our heat waves are becoming hotter, longer, more frequent, said Caroline Metz, managing director for climate resilience and health at Intact Centre for Climate Adaptation. They're happening earlier in the season, so people aren't quite ready, and they're happening in places that haven't had heat. There's been a push for a maximum temperature bylaw for buildings in cities such as Toronto (new window) , Ottawa (new window) and Hamilton (new window) . But if something like that is put into place, who would pay for it? I think we do need either a federal program or provincial programs, Metz said. We want to establish providing financial support for cooling assistance. Theresa McClenaghan, executive director and counsel at CELA said studies show that heat is the biggest threat to life (new window) from climate change, particularly for those in under-resourced communities. And, she notes, climate change doesn't respect borders. It's a five-alarm fire, right? It's a major, major emergency. And that means all the jurisdictions have the ability to act and should act, and they should act in concert, but they shouldn't wait for each other, said McClenaghan. There are some programs at the municipal and provincial level across the country, but they target specific groups. Most recently, Toronto started a program for seniors (new window) , and B.C. has a program (new window) where people can receive a free portable air conditioner, but only if they are clients of a Home Care Program (new window) or Mental Health Substance Use Program (new window) and they've received a recommendation letter. But there's no guarantee someone will receive a unit, as there is a limit on how many air conditioners are available. If maximum temperature limits are enacted across the country, buildings would have to be retrofitted, but, as many buildings in cities were built in the 1960s and '70s, they may not be able to withstand a power-load increase. Metz suggested that perhaps the first step would be for municipalities to have an electrical evaluation to assess their capabilities. Remember Christena Abbott? Well, she's also a leader at ACORN Canada (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now), a community union of low- and moderate-income people advocating for better rights. And that building she's living in? It was built in 1967. But this year, her building owner, WoodGreen — Toronto's largest non-municipal affordable housing provider — is retrofitting the building with new, more efficient windows. Next year? Heat pumps that will provide cooling to all of its residents. Ultimately, WoodGreen is looking for a zero-carbon building certification. And they have assured residents there will be no rent increase. The project received funding from the local municipal government and utility, but was mostly funded with federal housing grants and loans. Wilson says federal involvement is needed to ensure cooling for low-income tenants is affordable, so that the most vulnerable people are getting the cooling and they're not having this cost burden added to budgets that can't sustain it.
CBC
24-07-2025
- Health
- CBC
Should the government assist low-income people with air conditioning?
Hello, Earthlings! This is our weekly newsletter on all things environmental, where we highlight trends and solutions that are moving us to a more sustainable world. Keep up with the latest news on our Climate and Environment page. Should the government assist low-income people with air conditioning Christena Abbott is a senior living in a highrise apartment in Toronto. On the day we spoke, the temperature was 31 C. It was the first of what ended up being a three-day heat wave. "I have asthma, I'm diabetic, on insulin. I have six pinched nerves … and I cannot take heat at all," she said. Fortunately for Abbott, she has a portable air conditioner. "I can't live without it," she added. But not everyone is as fortunate as Abbott. Low-income families living in multi-unit dwellings face the greatest challenges during heat waves and are by far the most affected. A 2024 study published in the journal Environmental Research: Health found that those living on income assistance were 2.4 times more likely to die during a heat wave during the B.C. heat dome of 2021. "Ninety-eight per cent of the people who died during that event died indoors," said Jacqueline Wilson, counsel at the Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA). "When you look at those findings, the lesson from that is tackling the indoor air temperature because that was found to be the way that people were most at risk." As fossil fuels continue to be released into the atmosphere, and the climate continues to warm, Canadians will be faced with more frequent and intense heat waves, but having access to air conditioning isn't equitable. "Access to cooling … we've been thinking of it as a luxury…. But now our heat waves are becoming hotter, longer, more frequent," said Caroline Metz, managing director for climate resilience and health at Intact Centre for Climate Adaptation. "They're happening earlier in the season, so people aren't quite ready, and they're happening in places that haven't had heat." There's been a push for a maximum temperature bylaw for buildings in cities such as Toronto, Ottawa and Hamilton. But if something like that is put into place, who would pay for it? "I think we do need either a federal program or provincial programs," Metz said. "We want to establish providing financial support for cooling assistance." Theresa McClenaghan, executive director and counsel at CELA said studies show that heat is the biggest threat to life from climate change, particularly for those in under-resourced communities. And, she notes, climate change doesn't respect borders. "It's a five-alarm fire, right? It's a major, major emergency. And that means all the jurisdictions have the ability to act and should act, and they should act in concert, but they shouldn't wait for each other," said McClenaghan. There are some programs at the municipal and provincial level across the country, but they target specific groups. Most recently, Toronto started a program for seniors, and B.C. has a program where people can receive a free portable air conditioner, but only if they are clients of a Home Care Program or Mental Health Substance Use Program and they've received a recommendation letter. But there's no guarantee someone will receive a unit, as there is a limit on how many air conditioners are available. If maximum temperature limits are enacted across the country, buildings would have to be retrofitted, but, as many buildings in cities were built in the 1960s and '70s, they may not be able to withstand a power-load increase. Metz suggested that perhaps the first step would be for municipalities to have an electrical evaluation to assess their capabilities. Remember Christena Abbott? Well, she's also a leader at ACORN Canada (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now), a community union of low- and moderate-income people advocating for better rights. And that building she's living in? It was built in 1967. But this year, her building owner, WoodGreen — Toronto's largest non-municipal affordable housing provider — is retrofitting the building with new, more efficient windows. Next year? Heat pumps that will provide cooling to all of its residents. Ultimately, WoodGreen is looking for a zero-carbon building certification. And they have assured residents there will be no rent increase. The project received funding from the local municipal government and utility, but was mostly funded with federal housing grants and loans. Wilson says federal involvement is needed to ensure cooling for low-income tenants is affordable, "so that the most vulnerable people are getting the cooling and they're not having this cost burden added to budgets that can't sustain it." Check out our podcast and radio show. In one of our newest episode s: Planning to hit the road this summer? How about travelling 8,500 kilometres in an EV? That's what Carl Duivenvoorden is doing on his zero emissions journey across Canada. He shares some of the tips he's learned along the way, including the best and worst places for charging, and explains why EV road tripping is an efficient — and cheaper — option for the adventurous. After that, we'll take a trip down the EV misinformation highway, in search of answers to common claims that electric vehicles aren't really that green. What On Earth drops new podcast episodes every Wednesday and Saturday. You can find them on your favourite podcast app or on demand at CBC Listen. The radio show airs Sundays at 11 a.m., 11:30 a.m. in Newfoundland and Labrador. Check the CBC News Climate Dashboard for live updates on wildfire smoke and active fires across the country. Set your location for information on air quality and to find out how today's temperatures compare to historical trends. Reader Feedback Last week, we shared the story of a woman who moved away from her wildfire-prone community after her home burned down. Lawrence Walker wrote, "I enjoyed reading the article, but I disagree with her choice. I survived the Bush Creek East Wildfire in 2023…. I lost everything but my house, which I stayed behind and saved. Why would you move when there is no fuel left and you are safe from any wildfires for the next 20 years? Who knows when and where the next wildfire is going to happen. It could be right where she moves too." Traditionally, places that have burned recently haven't been expected to burn again for 10 to 30 years because most of the fuel has been used up. But recent observations show there can be enough fuel left to sustain another, lower-intensity fire as soon as the next year after a wildfire, Canadian Forest Service researcher Marc-André Parisien told Cabin Radio. A study of forests that reburned within two to 12 years found that high-severity fires led to high-severity reburns, but lower-severity fires were found to provide some protection against severe fires for up to 22 years. The Big Picture: PFAS in the Great Lakes Do you know the name of the largest surface freshwater system on the planet? If you guessed the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River, you're right. The massive watershed supplies drinking water to roughly 40 million people in North America, including eight million Canadians. It also happens to be tainted by toxic forever chemicals, also known as perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). There are thousands of different types of PFAS, and some have been linked to pretty serious health risks, including cancer. It's not just affecting the water — some species of fish are also contaminated, prompting the province of Ontario to issue warnings. The good news: so far, concentrations of PFAS found in tap water from the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence are within Canada's latest health guidelines. But forever chemicals are still being used as a common ingredient in everything from non-stick cookware to industrial manufacturing, which is why water quality experts CBC News spoke with are worried PFAS will continue to accumulate in the water. They're hopeful Canada will learn from past mistakes, and crack down on the pollutants before concentrations get too high. — Jaela Bernstien No doubt there's a drought — scientist says N.L. water levels are historically low Running out of water on an island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean may seem like an impossible idea — but that's exactly what's happening in Newfoundland. Paula Dawe, a scientist with the province's water resources management team, says more than 40 of the division's water monitoring stations are showing lower levels than normal and 10 of them are at all-time lows. Although that may come as a shock, Dawe says it shouldn't. "A lot of what we're seeing right now is what was predicted in the climate change projections about ... 20 years ago," Dawe said. "[We knew] the temperatures were going to be increasing in Newfoundland and Labrador, that stream flow was going to be lower, that waters were going to be warmer in the summer, that there would be less snowpack and it would be melting earlier." Just this summer, Dawe said she heard about groundwater wells drying up and salmon rivers having to close due to high water temperatures. Northwest River near Terra Nova Park has had to close several times this month for that reason. The area from Gander to St. John's is experiencing a moderate drought, according to data from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. The ground is drier than usual on the central part of the island, while most of Labrador is spared, said Dawe. Dawe said heat records will continue to be broken in the coming years due to climate change. "What was once considered extreme ... historically is going to become the new normal," she said. There is a high potential for water shortages this year, Dawe said, but there are ways people can curb that. Some of her tips include waiting until it's absolutely necessary to wash a car or water the lawn. Dawe even recommends putting a brick in toilet tanks to displace some of the water. If communities are experiencing water shortages, Dawe encourages them to contact the province's Water Resources Management Division for support and co-ordination. —Maddie Ryan
Hamilton Spectator
17-05-2025
- Health
- Hamilton Spectator
A deadly E. coli outbreak in Walkerton, Ont., changed everything 25 years ago
Bruce Davidson remembers the E. coli outbreak that ravaged his hometown 25 years ago as a 'strange dream.' The hospital in the small Ontario community of Walkerton usually wasn't busy but it suddenly got inundated with patients experiencing severe diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal pain. The first cases were reported on May 17, 2000. Soon, the township roughly 140 kilometres north of London, Ont., ran out of diarrhea medication, the emergency department overflowed and air ambulances came to take sick people to other hospitals. What turned out to be Canada's worst outbreak of E. coli O157 infections, caused by manure-tainted drinking water, ultimately killed seven people and sickened around 2,300. It was a 'strange dream where you're still you but nothing else is the same,' said Davidson. His own family fell ill and he later formed a citizens' advocacy group in response to the tragedy. Schools and restaurants were closed, he said, and streets that normally buzzed with children playing on warm spring days felt like a 'ghost town.' 'For the first bit, we were all in shock, but very, very quickly that started to change to anger,' Davidson said in a recent phone interview. He had heard about waterborne diseases in impoverished parts of the world, but said he never imagined experiencing that in Canada. The country had the technology, money and infrastructure needed for a safe water supply, 'and yet here we are killing people with drinking water,' he said. The health crisis caused by a mix of human negligence, lack of resources and natural factors caused countrywide outrage and triggered a public inquiry led by Ontario Justice Dennis O'Connor that lasted for nearly two years. It was determined that heavy rainfall between May 8 and May 12, 2000 had washed cattle manure from a nearby farm into a well. From there, deadly E. coli bacteria found its way to the municipal water system. The two brothers who managed the system — Stan and Frank Koebel — pleaded guilty to criminal charges in the case. The inquiry found that neither brother had the formal training to operate a public utility and water system, that they failed to properly chlorinate the water and that water safety records were falsified. The inquiry also found that Stan Koebel knew on May 17 that water was contaminated with E. coli but he did not disclose those test results for days. By the time a boil-water advisory was issued on May 21, it was too late. 'It was extremely tragic and even more tragic by the fact that the operators who didn't have proper training and didn't understand that groundwater could make people sick were suppressing the results of tests,' said Theresa McClenaghan, the executive director of the Canadian Environmental Law Association. McClenaghan, who represented Walkerton's residents during the inquiry, said had the brothers been transparent and told the public about the issue as soon as they knew, many would not become ill. 'But that went on for days and days that people were still drinking this highly contaminated water,' she said. McClenaghan said the inquiry didn't leave any stone unturned and in the end put out a series of recommendations that now serve as the foundation of water safety regulations, including the province's Safe Drinking Water Act and the Clean Water Act. The tragedy led to fundamental legislative reforms aimed at strengthening drinking water safety norms, including water source protection, treatment standards, testing and reporting procedures. Despite the huge progress, access to safe drinking water is still a serious issue, especially in northern Ontario's First Nations communities. A report released by the Ontario's auditor general in March raised concerns about oversight of non-municipal water systems that include inadequate testing and monitoring and lack of compliance enforcement. Nearly three million Ontarians get their water from a non-municipal system. While 98 per cent of samples tested from these systems in the past decade have met the provincial drinking water standards, there are weaknesses that need to be addressed to ensure water safety, the report said. It said about 1.3 million people drink water from private wells, and 35 per cent of the samples taken from them between 2003 and 2022 tested positive for indicators of bacterial contamination. The report listed recommendations that include increasing testing and oversight, and raising awareness about the risks and availability of testing resources. 'As demonstrated by the Walkerton crisis, the consequences of Ontarians drinking unsafe water can be deadly,' auditor general Shelley Spence wrote. The Canadian Environmental Law Association and dozens of other organizations have written to the provincial government calling for a 'timely and transparent' implementation of Spence's recommendations. The mayor of Brockton, Ont., the municipality that includes Walkerton, said he is glad that important reforms have been made since the deadly drinking water contamination. 'The testing that occurs of the municipal drinking water in Ontario now is very rigorous,' Chris Peabody said. He said 35 people currently work at the Walkerton Clean Water Centre where operators from across Canada are trained on how to provide safe and clean drinking water. But Peabody didn't want to speak further about the tragedy from 25 years ago, saying it was a traumatic experience for so many people. Bruce Davidson, the Walkerton resident, said even though the E. coli illnesses in his family weren't as serious as many others, they have all been struggling with the consequences. He said his wife had sporadic but 'excruciating pain' and severe cramping for around three years, and he and his son are still experiencing 'days when you just don't really want to get too far from a washroom.' The community has largely moved forward, he said. Housing has expanded and so have schools. The water is probably safer than anywhere else in the province, he said. After the tragedy, a few residents decided to leave Walkerton but most — including Davidson — stayed. 'Most people looked at it and said, this community is our home. It is worth fighting for,' he said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 17, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
17-05-2025
- Health
- Winnipeg Free Press
A deadly E. coli outbreak in Walkerton, Ont., changed everything 25 years ago
Bruce Davidson remembers the E. coli outbreak that ravaged his hometown 25 years ago as a 'strange dream.' The hospital in the small Ontario community of Walkerton usually wasn't busy but it suddenly got inundated with patients experiencing severe diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal pain. The first cases were reported on May 17, 2000. Soon, the township roughly 140 kilometres north of London, Ont., ran out of diarrhea medication, the emergency department overflowed and air ambulances came to take sick people to other hospitals. What turned out to be Canada's worst outbreak of E. coli O157 infections, caused by manure-tainted drinking water, ultimately killed seven people and sickened around 2,300. It was a 'strange dream where you're still you but nothing else is the same,' said Davidson. His own family fell ill and he later formed a citizens' advocacy group in response to the tragedy. Schools and restaurants were closed, he said, and streets that normally buzzed with children playing on warm spring days felt like a 'ghost town.' 'For the first bit, we were all in shock, but very, very quickly that started to change to anger,' Davidson said in a recent phone interview. He had heard about waterborne diseases in impoverished parts of the world, but said he never imagined experiencing that in Canada. The country had the technology, money and infrastructure needed for a safe water supply, 'and yet here we are killing people with drinking water,' he said. The health crisis caused by a mix of human negligence, lack of resources and natural factors caused countrywide outrage and triggered a public inquiry led by Ontario Justice Dennis O'Connor that lasted for nearly two years. It was determined that heavy rainfall between May 8 and May 12, 2000 had washed cattle manure from a nearby farm into a well. From there, deadly E. coli bacteria found its way to the municipal water system. The two brothers who managed the system — Stan and Frank Koebel — pleaded guilty to criminal charges in the case. The inquiry found that neither brother had the formal training to operate a public utility and water system, that they failed to properly chlorinate the water and that water safety records were falsified. The inquiry also found that Stan Koebel knew on May 17 that water was contaminated with E. coli but he did not disclose those test results for days. By the time a boil-water advisory was issued on May 21, it was too late. 'It was extremely tragic and even more tragic by the fact that the operators who didn't have proper training and didn't understand that groundwater could make people sick were suppressing the results of tests,' said Theresa McClenaghan, the executive director of the Canadian Environmental Law Association. McClenaghan, who represented Walkerton's residents during the inquiry, said had the brothers been transparent and told the public about the issue as soon as they knew, many would not become ill. 'But that went on for days and days that people were still drinking this highly contaminated water,' she said. McClenaghan said the inquiry didn't leave any stone unturned and in the end put out a series of recommendations that now serve as the foundation of water safety regulations, including the province's Safe Drinking Water Act and the Clean Water Act. The tragedy led to fundamental legislative reforms aimed at strengthening drinking water safety norms, including water source protection, treatment standards, testing and reporting procedures. Despite the huge progress, access to safe drinking water is still a serious issue, especially in northern Ontario's First Nations communities. A report released by the Ontario's auditor general in March raised concerns about oversight of non-municipal water systems that include inadequate testing and monitoring and lack of compliance enforcement. Nearly three million Ontarians get their water from a non-municipal system. While 98 per cent of samples tested from these systems in the past decade have met the provincial drinking water standards, there are weaknesses that need to be addressed to ensure water safety, the report said. It said about 1.3 million people drink water from private wells, and 35 per cent of the samples taken from them between 2003 and 2022 tested positive for indicators of bacterial contamination. The report listed recommendations that include increasing testing and oversight, and raising awareness about the risks and availability of testing resources. 'As demonstrated by the Walkerton crisis, the consequences of Ontarians drinking unsafe water can be deadly,' auditor general Shelley Spence wrote. The Canadian Environmental Law Association and dozens of other organizations have written to the provincial government calling for a 'timely and transparent' implementation of Spence's recommendations. The mayor of Brockton, Ont., the municipality that includes Walkerton, said he is glad that important reforms have been made since the deadly drinking water contamination. 'The testing that occurs of the municipal drinking water in Ontario now is very rigorous,' Chris Peabody said. He said 35 people currently work at the Walkerton Clean Water Centre where operators from across Canada are trained on how to provide safe and clean drinking water. But Peabody didn't want to speak further about the tragedy from 25 years ago, saying it was a traumatic experience for so many people. Bruce Davidson, the Walkerton resident, said even though the E. coli illnesses in his family weren't as serious as many others, they have all been struggling with the consequences. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. He said his wife had sporadic but 'excruciating pain' and severe cramping for around three years, and he and his son are still experiencing 'days when you just don't really want to get too far from a washroom.' The community has largely moved forward, he said. Housing has expanded and so have schools. The water is probably safer than anywhere else in the province, he said. After the tragedy, a few residents decided to leave Walkerton but most — including Davidson — stayed. 'Most people looked at it and said, this community is our home. It is worth fighting for,' he said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 17, 2025.
