Source: WaterWatchMA.ca
November 19 Abbotsford residents can vote to keep their water in public hands. A referendum will be held as part of the municipal elections. The City of Abbotsford needs residents’ approval before handing over our water services to a private for-profit corporation for the next 30 years.
In March, Mission residents and council voted NO to taking part in the scheme – the proposed $300-million Stave Lake P3 (public-private partnership) water project. Abbotsford Council has stubbornly continued on, entrenched in the idea that private control of public resources is the only way to go.
While private companies are often contracted by municipalities to design and build water infrastructure, Canadian communities have, with few exceptions, chosen to maintain public operation of drinking water systems – since public systems are cost-efficient, accountable, flexible, environmentally-sustainable and maintain control where it belongs, in public hands.
Water is for life, not for profit. And private corporations are only in it for the money.