Northwestern Ontario Northwestern Ontario Municipal AssociationMunicipal Association

Ken Graham, OMWA Board MemberKen Graham, OMWA Board Member

Councillor, Town of Smith FallsCouncillor, Town of Smith FallsThursday, April 28, 2011Thursday, April 28, 2011

Photo by: Andreas Achleitner

Ontario Municipal Water Association, Ontario Municipal Water Association, (OMWA)(OMWA)

• OMWA was formed in 1967 and has 190 OMWA was formed in 1967 and has 190 municipal members across the province, serving municipal members across the province, serving over 7 million customers.over 7 million customers.

• Board of Directors provides direction and Board of Directors provides direction and leadership on policy, legislative and regulatory leadership on policy, legislative and regulatory issues related to the provision of safe, sustainable issues related to the provision of safe, sustainable drinking water.drinking water.

• OMWA became a member of NOMA in 2010.OMWA became a member of NOMA in 2010.

Four Areas of Importance to our Four Areas of Importance to our MembersMembers

1.1. Private Members Bill 13, Sustainable Water & Private Members Bill 13, Sustainable Water & Wastewater System Improvements and Wastewater System Improvements and Maintenance Act 2010Maintenance Act 2010

2.2. Bill 72 – Water Opportunities and Water Bill 72 – Water Opportunities and Water Conservation Act, 2010Conservation Act, 2010

3.3. Taking Care of Your Drinking Water – A Guide for Taking Care of Your Drinking Water – A Guide for Members of Municipal CouncilsMembers of Municipal Councils

4.4. Recruiting New Staff for municipal water Recruiting New Staff for municipal water operationsoperations

Private Members Bill 13, Sustainable Water & Private Members Bill 13, Sustainable Water & Wastewater System Improvements and Wastewater System Improvements and Maintenance Act 2010Maintenance Act 2010

• Originally the Watertight Report, which became, Originally the Watertight Report, which became, Private Members Bill 237 and is now Bill 13.Private Members Bill 237 and is now Bill 13.

• Requires a minimum of 10,000 customers for the Requires a minimum of 10,000 customers for the water operation for cost savings and efficiencies.water operation for cost savings and efficiencies.

• This would mean combining a number of municipal This would mean combining a number of municipal operations, which would be difficult in the south, and operations, which would be difficult in the south, and the north would be almost impossible.the north would be almost impossible.

• Bill 13, also proposed setting up a water board to Bill 13, also proposed setting up a water board to regulate rates and to take the financial decision regulate rates and to take the financial decision making for water investments away from Municipal making for water investments away from Municipal Council’s.Council’s.

Private Members Bill 13, Sustainable Water & Private Members Bill 13, Sustainable Water & Wastewater System Improvements and Wastewater System Improvements and Maintenance Act 2010, Maintenance Act 2010, cont’dcont’d

• OMWA strongly opposed Bill 13.OMWA strongly opposed Bill 13.

• We have been assured that it will not be passed We have been assured that it will not be passed into law by the current government.into law by the current government.

Bill 72 – Water Opportunities and Water Bill 72 – Water Opportunities and Water Conservation Act, 2010Conservation Act, 2010

• Received Royal Accent on November 29, 2010Received Royal Accent on November 29, 2010

• OMWA has petitioned the government to ensure that OMWA has petitioned the government to ensure that publicly owned water systems not be privatizedpublicly owned water systems not be privatized

• OMWA’s recommendations were:OMWA’s recommendations were:1)1) Include on the board of directors of the Water Technology Include on the board of directors of the Water Technology

Acceleration Project, representatives from all participants in Acceleration Project, representatives from all participants in the sectors, including municipal governments.the sectors, including municipal governments.

2)2) Ensure when setting targets for water conservation that the Ensure when setting targets for water conservation that the government consider the variance in size and geographical government consider the variance in size and geographical locations of municipalities. The “one size fits all” approach locations of municipalities. The “one size fits all” approach places significant burden on municipalities.places significant burden on municipalities.

Bill 72 – Water Opportunities and Water Bill 72 – Water Opportunities and Water Conservation Act, 2010, Conservation Act, 2010, cont’dcont’d

3)3) Develop a stable funding source for smaller systems; in Develop a stable funding source for smaller systems; in keeping with Recommendation 84 of the O’Connor keeping with Recommendation 84 of the O’Connor Report.Report. While advocating full cost pricing for water, the OMWA While advocating full cost pricing for water, the OMWA

recognizes that smaller and/or remote systems, will recognizes that smaller and/or remote systems, will continue to need a stable funding system to continue to continue to need a stable funding system to continue to operate.operate.

For many of these systems, amalgamating with others is For many of these systems, amalgamating with others is not an option.not an option.

4)4) Monies collected through water rates only be used for Monies collected through water rates only be used for water infrastructure and operations.water infrastructure and operations.

Taking Care of Your Drinking Water – A Taking Care of Your Drinking Water – A Guide for Members of Municipal Guide for Members of Municipal CouncilsCouncils

• For a copy of the OMWA submission go to the For a copy of the OMWA submission go to the website at website at www.omwa.org

• Go to Newsroom and click on: Go to Newsroom and click on: Comments-Bill 72 Comments-Bill 72 Water Opportunities Act. Taking Care of Your Water Opportunities Act. Taking Care of Your Drinking Water – A Guide for Members of Municipal Drinking Water – A Guide for Members of Municipal CouncilsCouncils

• Section 19 of the Safe Drinking Water Act will be put Section 19 of the Safe Drinking Water Act will be put into law in 2013.into law in 2013.

• In 2004, OMWA prepared a handbook entitled In 2004, OMWA prepared a handbook entitled Ontario Drinking Water Stewardship Responsibilities Ontario Drinking Water Stewardship Responsibilities for Councillors and Municipal Officials.for Councillors and Municipal Officials.

Taking Care of Your Drinking Water – A Taking Care of Your Drinking Water – A Guide for Members of Municipal Guide for Members of Municipal Councils, Councils, cont’dcont’d• The Ministry of the Environment formed an advisory Group The Ministry of the Environment formed an advisory Group

consisting of Mayors and Councillors from across Ontario, consisting of Mayors and Councillors from across Ontario, OMWA, AMO and WCWC.OMWA, AMO and WCWC.– The Northern Ontario Representatives were Councillor Rebecca The Northern Ontario Representatives were Councillor Rebecca

Johnson of Thunder Bay, Councillor Andre Rivest from the City Johnson of Thunder Bay, Councillor Andre Rivest from the City of Greater Sudbury, former Mayor Michael Power from of Greater Sudbury, former Mayor Michael Power from Greenstone. Also involved was our OMWA Executive Director Greenstone. Also involved was our OMWA Executive Director Doug Parker, myself Ken Graham and as well there was staff Doug Parker, myself Ken Graham and as well there was staff from the Walkerton Clean Water Centre, Association of from the Walkerton Clean Water Centre, Association of Municipalities of Ontario and the Ministry of the Environment. Municipalities of Ontario and the Ministry of the Environment.

• A new easy to understand guide was prepared and A new easy to understand guide was prepared and electronically sent to each of our member municipalities.electronically sent to each of our member municipalities.

• For a copy of the new guide go to For a copy of the new guide go to www.omwa.org and go to and go to NewsroomNewsroom and click on and click on Drinking Water Guide for Drinking Water Guide for CouncillorsCouncillors..

Taking Care of Your Drinking Water – A Taking Care of Your Drinking Water – A Guide for Members of Municipal Guide for Members of Municipal Councils, Councils, cont’dcont’d• Walkerton Clean Water Centre has put together a Walkerton Clean Water Centre has put together a

three hour training program and is offering it at three hour training program and is offering it at locations across the province.locations across the province.

• Currently sessions for Northern Ontario are Currently sessions for Northern Ontario are scheduled for:scheduled for:– Tuesday, May 10Tuesday, May 10thth, 2011, in Cochrane, 2011, in Cochrane– Wednesday, May 11Wednesday, May 11thth, 2011, in Timmins, 2011, in Timmins

• Training sessions for your municipality can be Training sessions for your municipality can be scheduled by contacting:scheduled by contacting:– Brian Jobb, Walkerton Clean Water Centre: Brian Jobb, Walkerton Clean Water Centre:

brian.jobb@wcwc.ca

Recruiting Staff for Municipal Water Recruiting Staff for Municipal Water OperationsOperations

• Recruiting qualified operators has become very difficult.Recruiting qualified operators has become very difficult.

• A long term strategy needed to be established to A long term strategy needed to be established to promote careers in the water and wastewater sectors.promote careers in the water and wastewater sectors.

• A video was created that is geared towards high school A video was created that is geared towards high school students.students.

• In the process of developing a website along with our In the process of developing a website along with our partners, Ontario Water Works Association, the Water partners, Ontario Water Works Association, the Water Environment Association of Ontario, the Walkerton Clean Environment Association of Ontario, the Walkerton Clean Water Centre, and the Ministry of the Environment.Water Centre, and the Ministry of the Environment.

• Website should be operational by the end of June 2011.Website should be operational by the end of June 2011.

• OMWA awards four $500.00 annual bursaries to OMWA awards four $500.00 annual bursaries to students in community colleges who are taking water students in community colleges who are taking water related courses.related courses.

ClosingClosing• OMWA is proud of its 44 year history.OMWA is proud of its 44 year history.

• Key contributor to the Walkerton Inquiry.Key contributor to the Walkerton Inquiry.

• Strong working relationships with: Ontario Water Strong working relationships with: Ontario Water Works Association, the Walkerton Clean Water Works Association, the Walkerton Clean Water Centre, and the Province of Ontario.Centre, and the Province of Ontario.

• Work closely with the Water Environment Work closely with the Water Environment Association of Ontario, and the Canadian Water Association of Ontario, and the Canadian Water and Wastewater Association.and Wastewater Association.

• Membership information can be obtained from Membership information can be obtained from Doug Parker, or myself.Doug Parker, or myself.