P.O.W.E.R. for Halalt "Protect Our Water & Ecological Rights"
- Target:
- To the British Columbia Legislative Assembly
- Region:
- Canada
Petition to enact a moratorium injunction on The Chemainus Wells Project/ North Cowichan Municipality.
The Chemainus Wells Project plans to tap into the Chemainus River Aqifer, the same Aquifer in which Halalt draws its own water, as well as supply water to nearby Penelakut Band (members who live on Tussie Rd) lies below reserve lands and the proposed well-head sites are adjacent to the reserve land boundaries.
The entire project lies within the Halalts’ core territory. The Aquifer is connected to the Chemainus River. The Chemainus Wells Project plans to supply water to the thousands of homes in the Chemainus area as well as provide water to the new residential developments.
Halalt maintains that the North Cowichan Municipality has continued with extensive residential developments in the Chemainus Area despite the fact that a adequate and safe water supply is not available.
The North Cowichan Municipality would tap into Chemainus River Aquifer, rather than build a reservoir and treatment facility for its current surface water.
Work on the Chemainus Wells Project has been slated to be finished by April –May, Halalt band has launched legal action against the North Cowichan Municipality, last year but court delays have pushed back the hearings to about the same time.
North Cowichan Municipality needs to complete their project or lose funding.
Chemainus Wells Project has been given approval by the Provincial and Federal Government to tap into the Chemainus River Aquifer, despite the the fact that the water rights are in dispute and that it is before the courts.
Halalt residents feels that if the Chemainus Wells Project were to go through it would impact the already fragile stocks of salmon in the Chemainus River, as well as impact the species at risk and the medicinal plants the Halalt people depend on for better quality of health.
PETITION TO PROTECT DRINKING PETITION TO PROTECT CHEMAINUS RIVER AQUIFER FROM DEVELOPMENT
To the Honourable the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in Parliament assembled.
The petition of concerned citizens of the Halalt Nation, residents of British Columbia and citizens of Canada, brings to the attention of the Chemainus Wells Project threatens the water supply of the 273 men women and children who live on Halalt Reserve, as well as the Tussie Road residents (from Penelakut Band) who also depend on Halalts’ water supply.
The Chemainus Wells Project plans to tap into the Chemainus River Aqifer, the same Aquifer in which Halalt draws its own water, below reserve lands and the proposed well-head sites are adjacent to the reserve land boundaries. The North Cowichan Municipality would tap into Chemainus River Aquifer, rather than build a reservoir and treatment facility for its current surface water.
Work on the Chemainus Wells Project has been slated to be finished by April –May, Halalt band has launched legal action against the North Cowichan Municipality, last year but court delays have pushed back the hearings to about the same time.
North Cowichan Municipality needs to complete their project or lose funding.
Chemainus Wells Project has been given approval by the Provincial and Federal Government to tap into the Chemainus River Aquifer, despite the the fact that the water rights are in dispute and that it is before the courts.
Halalt residents feels that if the Chemainus Wells Project were to go through it would impact the already fragile stocks of salmon in the Chemainus River, as well as impact the species at risk and the medicinal plants the Halalt people depend on for better quality of health
The undersigned petitioners therefore request the Legislative Assembly to:
a) Enact a moratorium on Chemainus Wells Project that is within the watersheds that supply drinking water to the majority of the 273 residents who live on IR#2 of the Halalt First Nations, as well as to the residents of Tussie Road (Penelakut Band).
b) Halalt would like a Comprehensive Watershed Management plan for the watershed before the project goes ahead , (the project has gone ahead, without proper consultation with Halalt).
c) Halalt would like a say in how their water resources are managed.
Sincerely,
Carol August
Band member of the Halalt First Nation
Approved by Halalt Councillor, Tyler George
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The P.O.W.E.R. for Halalt "Protect Our Water & Ecological Rights" petition to To the British Columbia Legislative Assembly was written by Carol August ( Morrison) and is in the category Environment at GoPetition.