PCs delay NDP government community wells bill

Progressive Conservative MLAs have delayed the NDP government’s bill to amend regulations on community wells, citing concerns about government overreach.

The PC’s, in an April 15 news release, announced Bill 21 will be one of the five pieces of legislation the Opposition will hold over until the fall legislative session for review.

“This provides time for meaningful consultation with rural Manitobans, agricultural producers, municipalities and technical experts to ensure the legislation reflects real-world conditions,” the news release said.

The province introduced The Drinking Water Safety Amendment Act on March 11. The bill would allow government directors and public health officials to designate the type of water source based on its intended use, water quality and use duration rather than only the number of connections it has.

The current version of the act designates a public water source by having 15 connections or more.

It also grants government officials the ability to order a landowner to manage a public or semi-public water system and pay for the licensing when there is no clear owner.

“This bill applies a one-size fits-all approach that ignores how water systems actually operate in Manitoba,” said La Verendrye MLA and agriculture critic Konrad Narth.

“It is disconnected from reality and not grounded in science or risked-based decision-making.”

The news release raised concerns over the lack of flexibility with designations and potential risks of limiting water uses for wildfires.

Environment and Climate Change Minister Mike Moyes previously told The Carillon the bill would improve oversight and reduce bureaucracy for smaller water systems

“This is going to be reducing red tape and ensure that we have the the correct oversight, so that some of these smaller community water sources are actually in line with what needs to be done so they’re not deemed a public source if they’re actually quite small,” Moyes told The Carillon in March.