Strengthening Ontario’s Leadership In Protecting Water
McGuinty Government Tapping into Ontario’s Water Expertise, Creating Jobs
Ontario’s leadership in water protection is creating clean water jobs and strengthening local economies.
The Ontario Legislature passed the Water Opportunities and Water Conservation Act Tuesday, November 23. The act builds on Ontario’s expertise in water protection services and technology — making our province the leading clean water jurisdiction in North America.
The new act sets the framework to:
- Make Ontario a North American leader in developing water technologies and services and making our expertise available to the world through the creation of the Water Technology Acceleration Project (TAP) — a technology hub bringing together industry, academics and government to develop the sector and promote it abroad
- Encourage Ontarians to use water more efficiently by creating and implementing innovative approaches to protect our most valuable resource so our children and grandchildren will continue to have access to clean drinking water for generations
- Strengthen sustainable municipal water planning by helping them identify and plan for long term infrastructure needs.
The development of new water technologies will benefit Ontarians by creating good jobs and protecting our most valuable resource for our children and our grandchildren for generations. This approach is part of our Open Ontario Plan to build on Ontario’s expertise in clean water technology and make the province a world leader in water innovation to help address global water challenges.
QUICK FACTS
- Ontario companies are currently employing 22,000 people in good, high-paying jobs selling water technology around the world.
- Ontario firms are recognized leaders in ultraviolet disinfection, compact sewage treatment, water information and systems software, and plant design and operation.
- The water technology sector is valued at more than $400 billion worldwide, doubling every five to six years.
- Half of Ontarians consider fresh water to be Canada’s most important natural resource.
- On average, Ontarians use 260 litres of water per day – twice as much as countries like Germany and the UK.
- Five minutes of rinsing dishes under a faucet uses up to 45 litres of water.
