Letter from UBCM re: 2019-B154 Groundwater Extraction

November 30, 2021

Mayor and Council Town of View Royal 45 View Royal Avenue View Royal, BC V9B 1A6

Dear Mayor Screech:

Thank you for your letter of October 7, 2021.

In your letter a request is made for UBCM to follow up with the provincial government regarding endorsed resolution 2019-B154 titled Groundwater Extraction.

UBCM sent an initial letter of response dated October 25 indicating we were in receipt of your letter. Since then, your letter was brought to a recent meeting of the Environment Committee. The Committee reviewed the correspondence, but did not provide direction.

It is generally accepted that there have been ongoing concerns with the extraction of groundwater for bottling purposes. It is noted that communities like Salmon Arm have attempted to block the extraction of groundwater for bottling purposes. Please see the enclose news article.

UBCM must prioritize our resources and the work we undertake with the provincial government. Ground water is one of many environmental issues with an endorsed resolution seeking action from the Province and where UBCM is being asked to focus efforts. That being said, we invite our members to use endorsed resolutions as a starting point to reach out to the Province. Please consider using endorsed resolution 2019-B154 as a starting point to begin a conversation with your local MLA and/or the provincial Environment Minister to raise the issue of ground water extraction.

Sincerely,

Councillor Laurey-Anne Roodenburg UBCM President

Enclosure