Dear Ward 24 Neighbours,
Toronto City Councillor are given the option at the beginning of every term to sit on the Board of Directors of a vast array of Agencies, Boards, and Commissions.
While there are lots of choice…..and sometimes some fighting to get on your preferred choices….. I try to sit on those which will have a direct impact on the people and Ward which I was elected to represent.
One of those is the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority or as it’s commonly referred to The TRCA.
The TRCA is one of 36 conservation authorities in Ontario. The TRCA was created in 1957 after Hurricane Hazel devastated many parts of Ontario. The TRCA manages more than 40,000 acres of land in the Greater Toronto area. It employs close to 500 full-time employees and utilizes the talents of close to 5,000 volunteers every year. 
TRCA’s area of jurisdiction is watershed-based, and includes 3,467 square kilometres: 2,506 on land and 961 water-based in Lake Ontario. This area comprises nine watersheds from west to east: Etobicoke Creek, Mimico Creek, Humber River, Don River, Highland Creek, Petticoat Creek, Rouge River, Duffins Creek, Carruthers Creek.
The lands TRCA administers are used for flood control, recreation, education, and watershed preservation activities, including drinking water source protection. On several sites, TRCA operates conservation areas open to the public for recreational use, as well as The Black Creek Pioneer Village. This wonderful heritage site preserves numerous 1800s-era buildings in a pioneer setting……including a brewery! But its lots of fun for the entire family! Several municipal parks inside and outside Toronto are located on TRCA lands, such as the Toronto Zoo, Humber Bay Park and Milne Park. Within Ward 24 which I represent, it includes the Guild Park & Gardens, along with The Scarborough Waterfront Trail.
The TRCA operates five dams for flood water control, which helps maintains land security.
The key here is water……
Water, is one of the key resources every living being on our planet depends to live. We often take it for granted, but water is critical for transportation, recreation, industry, agriculture, energy, domestic and personal use. Most importantly we depend on it as a source for safe, clean, drinking water. 
Drinking water source protection is probably one of the TRCA’s most important goals. It is the first step in a multi-barrier approach to protecting our sources of drinking water before it can become contaminated. In Ontario, municipalities manage water treatment processes which removes many potential contaminants that can result in illness and even death; however preventing contamination is a much more effective way of ensuring clean drinking water and avoiding serious health issues. Before municipalities can have access to water, its source must be protected. This goes across municipal boundaries.
The majority of people affected most seriously by water related illnesses are very young children and the elderly. Water related illnesses can include: Cholera, E coli, and Cryptosporidiosis. And one of my Life Rules is always be really afraid of any disease which ends in “is’!!!
Any time there is a conversation in political circles about privatizing municipal water assets I think back to a horrible week in May 2000. It was when I started hearing news about the death of seven people and illness of 2,300 others in Walkerton. This scenario set in motion events which would change the way not only people in Ontario, but right across Canada viewed the right to safe, clean drinking water.
There was a provincial inquiry led by Justice Dennis O’Connor, into water supply systems across the province of Ontario. The inquiry resulted in two reports with 121 recommendations. Foremost was the recommendation by Justice O’Connor to see a multi-barrier approach created for preventing the contamination of drinking water. Drinking water source protection planning is the first barrier in the multi-barrier approach which includes: water treatment systems, distribution, testing and drinking water.
What do I worry about now as a Toronto City Councillor? Pretty much what the current provincial government will do to the sanctity of our water supply…….I’m sure I will be writing more about this in the future.
All my Best,
Paul
