Category Archives: Natural Resources

(September 7, 2000) OTTAWA – Claims by an international think-tank that Canadians pay too little for the water they consume are untrue, according to, the country’s municipal water utilities. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, in a report released Tuesday, said Canadian water rates are among the lowest in the developed world, while consumption ranks near the top of the international scale. Continue reading →

(August 1, 2000) After decades of neglect, many of Canada’s municipal waterworks are in shambles. Some municipalities lose as much as one-third of their water through pipe leaks, and the old cast iron pipes that dominate many communities are rusting from the inside out. Continue reading →

(November 30, 1999) Canadians have good reason to fear large scale water exports. The cost required to reroute rivers or build pipelines can run into tens and even hundreds of billions of dollars. Because the water is no longer needed south of the border, the Americans could cut off our exports at any time. And the ventures would be controlled by the very same people who have plundered our oil, forestry, fisheries and other natural resources — the politicians in Ottawa and in our provincial capitals. Continue reading →

(June 21, 1998) John Roe takes in his rowboat’s oars as another man cuts the motor on a barge piled high with rusted metal and rotted logs. A yellow Lab pants happily at the barge’s bow while its master turns to wave. “How’s it going, Darryl?” Roe says jovially. A few friendly words, and we move on our way, Roe explaining that Darryl Youlden has the contract to pick junk out of Victoria’s Gorge Waterway, two hours a day, seven days a week. Continue reading →