If the lawsuit is successful, it will likely increase the debate about the amount of money the province charges commercial interests for its water supply.
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The Presse Canadienne reports that a coalition of Quebec environmental groups will go to court to determine how much of Quebec’s water supply has been sold to commercial interests. Their case will be heard on March 1.
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Eau SecoursThe Centre qubcois du droit de lenvironnement(CQDE) wants a judge to direct Quebec’s access to information committee to reveal how many litres of water were sold to companies like Coca-Cola and Pepsi. The commission refused to share the information due to commercial secrecy.
If the public requests access to information to find out how much water was diverted by major users, it is refused. Marc Bishai, CQDE lawyer, said that for us it is a matter based on common sense.
The groups claim that Quebec’s water law, which promotes openness and participation, is superior to any other regulations. They claim that knowing the volume of water used commercially will allow for informed debate about how this impacts the province’s water system.
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The lawsuit could also increase the debate over how much the province charges commercial interest to use its water supply. Quebec’s opposition parties consider the current rate of royalty for this public resource far too low.
Parti Qubcois and the Quebec Liberal Party have called for an increase in the current level, which has remained the same since 2010, of royalties.
The Legault government has promised to review the royalty rate but not as part an ongoing study on amendments to Quebec’s environmental regulations.
The province’s royalty rate has been known to be very low. Quebec’s two billion litres commercially bottled water in 2018 generated less than $150,000 in government revenue. Ontario also collected $23 million in water royalty payments that year.
Quebec’s royalty rate is $2.50 to $70 for every million litres, depending on how it is used.
Italy charges $2,000 for the same amount while Denmark charges $10,000.
