Water Act being rushed says environmental group

The government of Prince Edward Island is about to start work on its first ever Water Act aimed at protecting the Island's water supply, but one environmental group would like to see the process slowed down.

The use of P.E.I.'s groundwater has come under scrutiny as the potato industry has pressed the government to lift a moratorium on high-capacity water wells for irrigation and that is what set government on this path.

Catherine O'Brien is chair of the Coalition for the Protection of P.E.I. Water and thinks the government's plan to roll out the new Water Act needs work.

"I would like to see consultations going on for the full year. I would like to see more scientific studies being done," she said.

"I would like to see more information being released to the public and that could take a couple of years. Then start to work on the actual draft of the Water Act. I could see it taking three, four, maybe five years."

That timeline is much longer than what the government has planned.

Public consultations will start in the fall with a first draft by spring.

Robert Mitchell, minister for the Department of Communities, Land and Environment, said that is just a goal.

"The most important part about the process is the beginning date which will begin this fall," he said.

Closed door meetings a concern

"You know when you start a project like, this you develop a plan. The end date is one that can certainly be adjusted as time and needs show it would be required to do that."

Some interest groups will have closed door meetings with government and it has become one of the major concerns about the process. Mitchell said it shouldn't be.

"They all understand what they submit will be public knowledge will be posted and everybody is quite comfortable with that," he said.

After the first draft is written, Mitchell said the public will have a chance to look at the act and provide more feedback.

"Islanders will have two opportunities to come to these public meetings to discuss what is on the first draft, so that we get it right. Is this what we heard? Is this what you told us? Is this what it should look like?"

O'Brien said getting it right will require more time.

"It doesn't give people enough time to really understand the issues to learn about what the key issues are for Prince Edward Island, what they feel is important to go into a Water Act," she said.

"If we want the public to be engaged we need to be informed properly."