BECAUSE:
Resolution No. 347 Submitted by the Metropolitan Vancouver District Council (B.C.)
• Access to clean, safe water is a fundamental human right and water should not be a commodity to be sold to the highest bidder; and • There is a growing water crisis, in particular on many First Nations reserves where sub-standard conditions exist.
CUPE NATIONAL WILL: 1.
Include in the Constitution the principle that access to clean, safe water is a right of Canadians; and
2.
Introduce a clean water policy to make that principle effective by ensuring that ownership and control of this resource remains in public hands, in line with the principles articulated in the recent motion by New Democratic Party Member of Parliament Peggy Nash; and
3.
Prohibit bulk water exports and implement strict restrictions on new diversions; and
4.
Establish national standards for safe, clean drinking water and implement a national investment strategy to enable municipalities and Aboriginal communities to upgrade desperately needed infrastructure without resorting to privatization through public private partnerships; and
5.
Amend as follows: Add the words “Lobby the federal and provincial governments to” at the beginning of paragraph 1.
Resolution No. 352 Submitted by Local 1169 (Alta.) CUPE NATIONAL WILL: Lobby the provincial governments to ensure that any changes or renewal to the "water" strategies adequately address the issue of all water allocations and water licenses issued to all industries, agriculture and municipalities.
Oppose measures in international agreements that promote the privatization of water services and reproliferation of bottled water, and ensure water does not become a tradable commodity in current and future trade deals; and
6.
Take immediate actions to ensure community controlled public water systems protect public health, ensure accountability, protect the environment, ward off profiteers and provide skilled jobs in our communities by supporting public ownership and management of such water systems; and
7.
Work with the Assembly of First Nations, the Métis Nations, the Council of Canadians, the Polaris Institute and other allies to support a national Aboriginal water watch campaign to ensure that Aboriginal communities across Canada have access to safe, clean, affordable, public water; and
8.
NEB decision - CONCURRENCE AS AMENDED
BECAUSE: • The water resources in all provinces are decreasing due to weather changes and issues related to climate change; and • A large portion of our water resources has been already allocated for use; and • Provincial governments need to enhance the conservation and protection of our water resources for future generations, to ensure a reliable and good quantity and quality of water to support a sustainable economy.
NEB decision - CONCURRENCE
Press the federal government to urge the World Bank to ensure access to clean, affordable water for the world's poor, and strengthen the role of the public sector and individual communities in setting water policies and delivering and maintaining public water plants.
Resolution No. 353 Submitted by Local 1169 (Alta.) CUPE NATIONAL WILL: Not allow commercially bottled water at its events.
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