LIVING WATER SMART IN BRITISH COLUMBIA: “Commit $30 million annually over a 10-year period – to deal with both the fallout of a less-than-successful launch of the groundwater licensing system AND the requirements necessary to meet the objectives of the Water Sustainability Act,” stated Ted van der Gulik in his presentation to the Select Standing Committee on Government Finance (September 30, 2021)
NOTE TO READER:
Leadership and commitment at the highest levels of government have been missing in action during the 6-year transition period for implementation of groundwater licensing in British Columbia. Consequently, this is a looming crisis with far-reaching ramifications for the BC economy.
Thus, the edition of Waterbucket eNews published on October 5, 2021 drew attention to the presentation by Partnership President Ted van der Gulik to the Select Standing Committee on Government Finance on September 30, 2021. He laid out a How-To-Framework for a 10-year plan of action to get groundwater licensing back on track.
Partnership for Water Sustainability issues a “Call for Action” by the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services to rectify a chaotic situation, provide a dedicated budget, and get groundwater licensing implementation back on track in British Columbia
“For months now, the Partnership has been raising the red flag regarding the consequences of government NOT making a last ditch, all-out effort to urge historical groundwater users to apply for their licences before the deadline. If they do not do so, they will lose their historical rights and be considered illegal uses of water,” Ted van der Gulik, Partnership President said to the members of the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services on September 30, 2021.
“Without a substantial influx of funding, the situation will become even more complex – and volatile, as a new user – for example, a water bottling company – qualifies for a groundwater licence while a local rancher goes bankrupt because he no longer has legal access to water his cattle.”
“With this year’s economic losses and social trauma of raging forest fires throughout the province, climate change has certainly become a top-of-mind issue for many British Columbians – and no doubt with the Finance Committee as well.”
“The Partnership believes that $30 million for each of the next 10 years dedicated to achieving the objectives of the Water Sustainability Act is key to building provincial resilience in the face of climate change impacts already upon us and – with certainty – to increase in the future.”
TO LEARN MORE:
To read the complete story released via Waterbucket eNews, and posted elsewhere on the waterbucket.ca website, click on:
Alternatively, download a PDF copy of Living Water Smart in British Columbia: Ramifications of Groundwater Licensing Crisis for BC Economy.
Ted van der Gulik presenting to the Select Standing Committee on Government Finance on September 30, 2021 in Richmond at the fifth and final Budget 2022 Consultation in-person event. Seated at the head table are Chair Janet Routledge (right) and Co-Chair Ben Stewart (left).
To listen to the presentation, click on the following link and listen from 3:54PM until 4:07PM: http://videoarchive.leg.bc.ca/Harmony/en/PowerBrowser/PowerBrowserV2/0/-1/11165?viewmode=2
