OSWCA Commends Ford Government Commitments on Source Water Protection & Skilled Trades Transformation

TORONTO, April 11, 2019 /CNW/ - The Ontario Sewer and Watermain Construction Association (OSWCA) is encouraged that the updating and expanding of municipal infrastructure to improve the delivery of core government services remains a key priority for the Ford Government. The additional commitments to transform the skilled trades and apprenticeship system and standardize the asset management and infrastructure procurement processes are all welcomed changes that will help to enhance access to the trades and streamline project prioritization and delivery.

"It is clear the government is remaining focused on shrinking the core infrastructure deficit and addressing the significant traffic congestion problems that we face in the province," said Brad Brewster, President of the OSWCA. "The commitments to transit and transportation projects will help to alleviate the municipal transit burden and allow municipalities to allocate more capital funding to other core infrastructure needs, like stormwater and wastewater infrastructure."

The Budget also makes a number of commitments to source water protection, including real‐time monitoring and reporting of sewage overflows from municipal wastewater systems into Ontario's lakes and rivers.

"Unmonitored and under-reported sewage overflows into public watercourses is a serious problem across the province," said OSWCA Executive Director Giovanni Cautillo. "It is great to see that the Ford government is committed to gaining a better understanding of this problem and working to the public informed of when sewage overflows occur. Every year we dump billions of litres of untreated sewage into our public watercourses. The commitments in this Budget are the first step in addressing this problem and protecting our provincial source water."

The OSWCA is the voice of the sewer and watermain industry, representing over 750 member companies, including contractors, suppliers, manufacturers, and consulting engineers across the province. To learn more about the OSWCA go to www.oswca.org.   

SOURCE Ontario Sewer and Watermain Construction Association

Patrick McManus, Director of Government Relations and Communications, OSWCA, [email protected], 905-629-7766 ext. 222.