The Government Relations Director is responsible for the Government Affairs Committee including being the designated ACWWA representative appointed to the Canadian Water and Wastewater Association (CWWA) board of directors and also as the AWWA-Canadian Affairs Committee representative for ACWWA. 

The Government Affairs Committee falls under the Government Relations Director and is comprised of:

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS DIRECTOR

Mike Abbott, NS

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GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS CHAIR

Tony Whalen, NB

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GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE MEMBERS

The purpose of the Atlantic Canada Water and Wastewater Association (ACWWA) Government Affairs Committee is to act as a liaison between the provincial and municipal levels of government and the Atlantic Canada Water and Wastewater Association to:

• Promote cooperation between the ACWWA and various levels of government;

• Investigate and coordinate opportunities for synergy between the ACWWA and Government;

• Develop an awareness of government programs and ACWWA’s activities.

The Committee will also apprise ACWWA members, via the Section magazine, regarding legislative and regulatory matters, and other rules such as policies, guidelines, procedures, programs, and approvals that directly or indirectly affect the drinking water and wastewater industry in Atlantic Canada.

OTHER AREAS OF INVOLVEMENT 

Canadian Water and Wastewater Association (CWWA)

The Canadian Water and Wastewater Association (CWWA) is the national body representing the common interests of Canada’s municipal water and wastewater services, their private sector suppliers/partners and other stakeholders. It is recognized by the federal government and national bodies as the national voice of this public service sector.

CWWA promotes a harmonized and rational policy and regulatory framework across Canada for municipal water and wastewater services and the appreciation of these services by the general public.

The Association represents the sector’s interests on national media issues.

CWWA encourages and promotes a variety of policies and programs including water use and efficiency, full cost pricing, national certification of water and wastewater operators. Further, CWWA attempts to provide to government the industry’s perspectives on water and wastewater quality guidelines.

AWWA “Canadian Affairs Committee” (CAC)

The “Mission” of the “Canadian Affairs Committee” (CAC) is to support, plan, develop, and coordinate AWWA activities in Canada, with particular emphasis on the continuing improvement of inter-section liaison and the promotion of AWWA services to AWWA Canadian sections/members; to represent the issues and ideas of Canadian members and sections to AWWA; and to carry out activities to build awareness and unity of Canadians within AWWA.

If you have any questions or have any suggestions for the committee please contact any of the committee members.

On March 8, 2019, Health Canada released revised guidelines, significantly reducing the maximum allowable concentration of lead in drinking water. While our municipal water sector fully supports these new targets, we need to identify the challenges inherent in moving to these new targets while maintain full public confidence in the safety of their drinking water.

Please see the links below for some speaking notes and a fact sheet that were compiled by the CWWA. Thanks to Robert, Reid and Michele for their work on developing the notes and fact sheet. Please feel free to contact me if there are any questions.

• Health Canada Publishes New Guidelines for Lead (Pb)

• CWWA Fact Sheet on Lead

• CWWA Speaking Notes on Lead