Students want government to stop buying water

Thursday, March 10, 2011   by: SooToday.com StaffNEWS RELEASE

CANADIAN FEDERATION
OF STUDENTS

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Students challenge the Government of Ontario to stop buying bottled water

TORONTO - Students are calling on the McGuinty Government to follow the example of the Government of Nova Scotia and phase out the sale of bottled water in government facilities.

The call comes as part of Bottled Water Free Day, aimed at raising awareness about the environmental impacts of bottled water and the need to defend public water resources and infrastructure. 

"Consumption of bottled water not only creates enormous waste, it represents the privatization of a basic human right," said Sandy Hudson, chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario. "Students are calling on the Ontario government to follow Nova Scotia's lead and go back to the tap."

In April 2010, Nova Scotia became the first province to ban the sale of bottled water.

The ban included all provincial facilities that had safe, drinkable water.

To date nearly 100 municipalities, four municipal associations (including the Federation of Canadian Municipalities), eight school boards, 12 university campuses and countless workplaces have restricted the sale or distribution of bottled water.

"Providing water at meetings and improving drinking fountain infrastructure will not only reduce waste, it will also save the government money," said Hudson. "Bottled water is much more expensive than tap water, and will save the Ontario government potentially millions of dollars."

There are Bottled Water Free Day events planned at more than 60 college and university campuses as well as at workplaces, high schools, municipal facilities and other institutions.

The University of Victoria and King's University are announcing today that they will be going bottled water free.

Bottled Water Free Day is in its second year and was organized by the Canadian Federation of Students, Canadian Union of Public Employees, Sierra Youth Coalition, Polaris Institute, and Development and Peace.

For more information, visit: www.bottledwaterfreeday.ca

The Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario unites more than 300,000 college and university students studying at public post-secondary institutions across the province.

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