P.E.I. Green Party Leader Sharon Labchuk says one of the greatest fears she had about returning to the Island in 1988 was the state of the province’s groundwater.
Twenty-three years later, Labchuk’s concerns have only grown stronger.
On Tuesday, the Green Party laid out its plans for a Clean Water Act, a piece of legislation Labchuk hopes will be adopted by whoever forms government after the Oct. 3 provincial election.
Labchuk says it’s a big problem.
“It has enormous implications for the economy of P.E.I.,” Labchuk told The Guardian.
“We are a tourist destination and we build our reputation on P.E.I. as a good place to come on a holiday. If people find out our water is not fit to drink that will have repercussions.”
An outspoken environmentalist and founder of Earth Action, Labchuk has long had concerns about the use of pesticides and other chemicals and their impact on Prince Edward Island’s air and water supply.
Labchuk’s Clean Water Act would be far reaching.
“The aim of the act is to protect ground water from pollutants.”
The Clean Water Act has six principles, under the guiding statement that every citizen of P.E.I. has the right to pure and safe drinking water.
The Green Party wants nitrate levels brought back to less than 1 mg per litre.
There are parts of the Island, particularly around the O’Leary area in West Prince, which has nitrate levels 5 to 6 mg per litre, she said.
The Green Party would monitor the sales of nitrates and pesticides, add provincial sales tax and a pollution tax on the sale of both products, and work towards the elimination of their use in the province.
Labchuk hopes the province can move to a fully organic farming within five years.
“The taxes would be used, in part, to pay for new wells and for home treatment systems because right now people faced with water that is above the allowable limit, they can’t drink their water, and they are left high and dry.”
Labchuk said the old parties approach is testing water to see if it is contaminated.
Her approach would ensure steps are taken so that the water never gets contaminated.
“This is just an example of the old school approach to managing water quality, you wait until it’s polluted, then you try to rectify it.”
wthibodeau@theguardian.pe.ca
Thank you, Ms. Boswell. Thoughtful comments encourage voting.