At the request of many constituents I’ve had the opportunity to review the report from Stantec Consulting, Municipal Class Environmental Assessment Process, regarding water supply options for the community of Wallaceburg.
Wallaceburg is located in my electoral district of Lambton-Kent-Middlesex. I’ve also received interventions from municipal leaders and environmental organizations with more than 30 years of experience with respect to water supply options in Wallaceburg.
Without exception they are opposed to the recommended option to connect to the Chatham Water Supply option. Equally they are unanimous in their support for Option Two, an upgrade to the existing Wallaceburg Water Treatment Plant.
I am writing you today to state my support for Option Two for the following reasons:
1. Source water from the Snye River is of better quality than Lake Erie. As you know Lake Erie continues to face serious water quality issues, which to date have not been fully addressed.
2. Connection to Lake Erie would leave Wallaceburg with a single supply of water source. An upgrade to Wallaceburg Water Treatment Plant allows for redundancy opportunities.
3. The capital costs for Option Two are considerably less than Option Three, not withstanding lower operating costs for Option Three. As a former municipal Mayor and warden, my experience with cost projections 20 and 40 years out are that they tend to be highly speculative and inaccurate.
In bringing to your attention my concerns, and those of my constituents, I am mindful that the provision of water is a municipal responsibility. And while the report is silent regarding financing of the project, I want you to know that I would not be able to support any federal infrastructure funding for Option Three unless the concerns I’ve noted above were addressed to the satisfaction of my constituents.
Thank you for your time and consideration. Should you have any other questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact me.
– Bev Shipley, MP in Lambton-Kent-Middlesex
