FCM to Vote: Phase Out Bottled Water?

The Council of Canadians is encouraging the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) to vote in favour of a resolution that would call for all municipalities to phase out the sale and purchase of bottled water where appropriate. The vote is expected to take place this Saturday, March 7, at the upcoming FCM board meeting in Victoria.

“If this resolution at the FCM goes through, it will send an important message to the rest of the world about the leadership of Canadian municipalities in reclaiming water as a public resource,” says Maude Barlow, senior advisor on water to the President of the United Nations General Assembly and national chairperson of the Council of Canadians. “The FCM adopting a policy opposing bottled water would also be an important step toward a national water policy that would improve the public system and ensure clean drinking water standards for all communities across the country.”

In January, the London chapter of the Council of Canadians worked with the city of London to have this resolution tabled at the FCM. So far, 27 municipalities across Canada have phased out the sale of bottled water in their facilities.