Evolving toward participatory water management: The permit to take water program and commercial water bottling in ontario

Abstract

Policy makers are increasingly advocating more open or transparent decision making in resource and environmental management. However, actual practice does not always conform to policy. The Permit To Take Water Program in Ontario requires anyone withdrawing more than 50,000 litres of water per day for non-domestic or non-farming purposes to obtain a permit from the provincial government. Experience with commercial water-bottling companies in Grey and Bruce Counties indicates that local councils and residents have little opportunity to participate in the decisionmaking process relative to permits, even when they perceive serious problems with the commercial water-bottling operations. Several local councils have proposed significant changes to the Permit To Take Water Program, and a provincial Member of Parliament prepared a private member’s bill advocating the modification of current practice. The proposed changes deserve serious consideration if decision making is to become open and transparent. © 1995 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.