Background
Proposed Strategy
Template Letters

CWWA hopes to encourage Environment Canada to modify its planned use of P2 Planning as an instrument to manage ammonia and chloramines, and to integrate it with the CCME Development Committee on MWWE.

Background

Environment Canada (EC) has proposed that municipalities discharging effluents meeting certain quality, quantity and receiving water body conditions, develop and submit Pollution Prevention Plans for the management of these effluent discharges.

CWWA opposes this as it would set a legislative precedent for the direct management of toxic substances in municipal effluents under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999. CWWA believes that Environment Canada can and should work with and through the provinces and territories in the management of toxic substances in municipal wastewater in the same manner as Health Canada works with the provinces and territories to establish drinking water guidelines.

CWWA needs you to add your voice to those of other municipalities on this issue.

Proposed Strategy:

1. Work closely with FCM to ensure that the technical and political levels within the same municipalities are on the same page;
2. Work closely with CWWA's Member Associations and the WEF Canadian Advisory Council to ensure a unified approach;
3. Encourage municipalities that submitted resolutions opposed to the proposed P2 instrument to write to the CCME (David Anderson as President) and EC (David Anderson as Minister), copying their provincial Environment ministers (templates are available on CWWA website);
4. Encourage municipalities that fall under the criteria for P2 to also write and send letters as in 3) above;
5. Ensure that the provincial and territorial municipal Association representatives carry forward the unified message to this CCME group that municipalities want a one window approach to MWWE management through provinces/territories and that the P2 could be replaced using the CCME process;
6. CWWA obtain written statements from each provincial government on their position regarding P2 for MWWE (this to be done through CWWA's provincial Directors and through member Associations);
7. Continue to participate in the CCME initiative and EC P2 initiative to influence the directions to be followed;
8. As the EC EAG and CCME CAG move forward CWWA will reevaluate its position on P2;
9. The overall strategy is to ensure that MWWE are managed in the best, scientific and technical manner ensuring environmental and human health benefits without undue economic burdens, or contradictory or repetitive legislative demands.

Template Letters

CWWA encourages all concerned municipalities to write to David Anderson, as Minister of the Environment and to the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) to encourage them to seek another option to control municipal wastewater effluents. CWWA has developed template letters, which municipalities can download and customize (word format).

Letter to David Anderson, Minister of the Environment
Letter to David Anderson, President of the CCME