For Immediate Release
November 7, 2008

Water bottle ban goes down the drain

Simcoe – The plug was pulled late yesterday in the Ontario Legislature that would have seen single-use plastic water bottles ban across Ontario.

In a surprise vote, the water bottle ban was defeated 17-10 by both PC and Liberal members, despite the fact Liberal Environment Minister John Gerretsen indicated support for the legislation.

During debate in the Legislature and following the vote, local MPP and Environment Critic Toby Barrett said that the idea was the “latest in a long list of McGuinty nanny state style bans designed to divert our attention from this government's lack of attention to what's essentially driven this province from first to worst, from have to have-not, from a province formerly of job creators to now job killers.”

Barrett said that as Environment Critic he is certainly in favour of any measure that will help the environment but said an outright ban, at a time when businesses of all sizes are struggling, is not the answer.

“Instead, if they're concerned about plastic bottles, consult with the people who manufacture them and consult with the people who are being impacted,” Barrett said. “Let's look at improving some of this through incentives, education and information.”

Had the bill passed, an entire industry and over 11,000 jobs across Ontario would have been at risk. Barrett said that the government must stop banning things and focus on the economy.

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