In the News
Explore recent coverage on legislation, privatization, and emerging threats to public water.
Ontario’s water system is changing in ways that could affect cost, safety, and who gets a say in key decisions. These articles explain what’s going on, who’s involved, and why people are concerned. Dive into the stories shaping the future of water in Ontario.
A New Water System Built in the Shadows
As Ontario releases regulations for new “municipal service corporations,” critics warn the Ford government is establishing water agencies that look and act like private companies. Incorporated under the Business Corporations Act, these entities can use a “non-share capital” structure that obscures money flows and allows profit to be funnelled to private operators through contracts and fees
The Corporate Takeover of Ontario’s Water Systems
With Bill 60 now in effect, Ontario is entering a phase where local water systems can be handed to for-profit corporations rather than being governed by elected councils. The legislation empowers these new “water corporations” to set rates and take on debt, raising the likelihood of higher costs for residents and less public oversight.
Ontario’s Water ‘At Risk’ as Bill 60 Opens Door to Privatization
In this CBC Radio interview, environmental lawyer David Donnelly breaks down why Bill 60 could quietly transform water from a public service into a profit-generating commodity. The legislation is written in vague, confusing terms that permit the creation of “public corporations” registered under the private Business Corporations Act—a structure designed to maximize profit, not protect residents.
Is Doug Ford Privatizing Ontario’s Water?
As Ontario rewrites its water laws, critics warn the Ford government is consolidating power and opening the door to privatization. A Rabble.ca analysis argues that new “water corporations” could be created even over municipal objections, shifting control from local governments to provincial ministers and corporate interests.
The Hidden Cost of Ontario’s Data Centre Boom
As tech companies race to build data centres in Ontario, CUPE warns that the scale of their water use could strain local supplies and public infrastructure. One Microsoft facility alone is approved to draw up to 1.2 billion litres a year, raising questions about who pays for the water, the infrastructure to deliver it, and the environmental consequences of meeting that demand.
Ontario’s Water System Enters a New, Riskier Era
After Bill 60 became law, advocates warn that Ontario’s water is now “at risk” as control shifts from elected councils to corporate boards with little public accountability. The legislation allows new “water corporations” to run local systems, set rates, and take on debt, raising fears of higher costs for residents and profit-driven decision-making.
How AI Data Centres Are Draining Our Water Supplies
As AI companies race to expand, Ontario is quietly becoming a major hub for massive, high-water-use data centres. A new CBC investigation shows that these operations demand extraordinary volumes of water—Microsoft alone has approval to draw over a billion litres per year at a single facility. The more centres Ontario approves, the more public systems are pressured.