Water Watchers: IT’S HEATING UP  

A couple months back, we announced that Water Watchers will be joining our first ever legal intervention, and since then, a short adage has often been on my mind:

“It’s not about the people in power.
It’s about the power in the people.”

There’s power in these legal pathways of resistance, directly shaping our democracy by ensuring laws are constitutionally aligned, but there’s also immense power in the people.

Within this water justice movement, we’ve proved time and time again that people power works. From local wins resisting mega-industrial projects to national wins like Nestle leaving the water bottling business in North America, we are at our most powerful when we come together. This is the truth that sustains me in this work: if we can keep the pressure on and stay united in our resistance, we will win.

It’s the people in power driving these decisions, but they are accountable to us.

The water is calling us to rise up in a unified swell. I can hear it from all corners of this work to resist unchecked resource extraction, stop the proliferation of data centres, keep water public, and confront the erosion of anti-democratic policies. There are many invitations below to be part of the Water Watchers’ swell and I hope you’ll add your voice because this work is about the power in the people.

Yours in the movement,

❤️‍🔥 Upcoming Webinar: Disarming Bill 5 / C-5 ❤️‍🔥

Water Watchers announced in March we are joining forces with 14 First Nations and several eNGOs like Sierra Club Canada, Council of Canadians, and 8th Fire Rising to support the forthcoming legal challenge against Bills 5 & C-5.

Now, the co-intervenors and Indigenous litigants are coming together with a webinar to share more about this legal challenge and how you can support.

Federal Bill C-5 and Ontario Bill 5 are moving fast — and their implications are profound. These bills contain what legal experts call “Henry the VIII clauses”: sweeping powers that allow Cabinet to designate projects of “national interest” (PONIs) that are exempt from democratic process: free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC), environmental assessments and protections, labour protections, and more — all behind closed doors.

This webinar brings together Indigenous leaders, legal experts, and frontline water defenders to share what’s at stake, what’s being fought for by First Nations and civil society, and how you can get involved. RSVP today for the Zoom link, and please share far & wide!

🌊 Great Lakes Water Protection Actions 🌊

Ontario Water Protections Actions

May 14th is the last day for Ontarians to raise their voices in defence of public water and wastewater services. Let’s ensure Ontario decision-makers here this message loud and clear: profiteering and water don’t mix.

We also echo the calls of the Anishinabek Nation who recently called for a moratorium on permits to take water in Ontario. We are demanding immediate action to protect our collective waters and a halt to further permits to take water. We hope you’ll join us in raising your voice for water.

Whichever waters are flowing near you or resting under your feet, it is one water that unites us and binds our fate. Many of the people in power might not feel responsible to the water, yet we the people know that water is life and must be protected for all beings to survive and thrive.

Thank you for being with us on this journey to ensure water is for life, not profit. Let’s see how far people power can take us.

Yours in the good work,
Water Watchers

PS – Like we’re hearing from many non-profits, fundraising has been tough for us lately. If you can help keep us afloat as we work to get some bigger grants, you can make a donation here 💙. If you need a tax receipt for your donation, support us through our partnership with Small Change Fund here!