OPEN LETTER FOR CANADA TO PROTECT OUR WATER

An Open Letter to the Government of Canada​ Protect Canada’s Water — Protect Our Health

As Canadians deeply concerned about our nation’s growing water crisis, we, the undersigned organizations and individuals, call on the Government of Canada to act now.

We urge immediate implementation of national, enforceable drinking water regulations that include strong source water protections — to safeguard the health, environment, and future of every person in this country.

Water Is Life — and Canada Is Falling Behind 

Despite billions spent on research, too many communities continue to drink contaminated water. Scientists have found more than 50 different pesticides in Canadian tap water. Beneath our streets, ageing asbestos cement pipes are breaking down, releasing harmful fibres into drinking systems. And across the country, First Nations communities such as Neskantaga and Grassy Narrows have endured boil-water advisories for decades, despite repeated government promises and investments.

The government’s decision in Budget 2025 to eliminate periodic pesticide re-evaluations would weaken existing protections even further. Shockingly, this proposal relies on a scientific study later retracted for ethical breaches: Science.org – Journal retracts Monsanto-backed study. Canadians deserve science-based policies that protect public health — not corporate influence over safety standards.

A National Failure with National Consequences 

Canada is the only G7 nation without enforceable national drinking water regulations. Provinces rely on inconsistent, often weak guidelines that cannot guarantee equal protection for all residents. Even modern treatment systems cannot remove every contaminant, leaving Canadians exposed to chemicals and microbes that cause cancers, infertility, immune dysfunction, and waterborne disease.

The Global Evidence Is Clear

A new international report, Invisible Ingredients, produced by leading scientists from institutions including the Institute of Preventive Health, the Centre for Environmental Health, the University of Sussex, and Duke University, shows how synthetic chemicals — phthalates, bisphenols, pesticides, PFAS — are poisoning global ecosystems and human health. The report estimates that toxic exposures impose up to $2.2 trillion (USD) in annual health costs, and if left unchecked, could lead to 200–700 million fewer births globally by 2100.

The experts behind the study describe chemical pollution as a crisis rivaling climate change — yet Canada continues to lag behind the World Health Organization, the European Union, and the United States in setting enforceable standards.

The Cost of Inaction: The numbers are staggering, but the lesson is simple: prevention is far cheaper than cleanup.

When we account for the combined costs of waterborne illnesses, pesticides, and industrial pollution, the economic and health costs of inaction become indefensible. Prevention — through strong source water protections and consistent enforcement — will save lives, reduce healthcare spending, and protect future generations.

Our Call to Action 

We call on the Government of Canada to:

1. Adopt legally enforceable national drinking water regulations applicable in every province and ​ ​ ​ territory.
2. Include comprehensive source water protection as a central pillar of these regulations. 
3. Ensure transparency, accountability, and public access to water quality data in all jurisdictions.

Clean water is a fundamental human right. It transcends politics, geography, and ideology. Protecting it is the responsibility of all levels of government — and the duty of every Canadian to demand.

We stand together — environmental advocates, scientists, healthcare professionals, community leaders, and citizens — united in calling for leadership that matches the scale of this crisis.

Safe drinking water cannot wait. The time for national action is now.

Signed,

Sign

Please note that all concerned individuals are invited to sign.  

We encourage communities and organizations to also share with their members.