In a December 6, 2019 article in the Toronto Star entitled, “Tainted water revelations spark calls for action across Canada“, Oakville Mayor Rob Burton was cited as one of 24 Halton Region Councillors who voted unanimously in favour of a resolution calling on Ontario’s Ministry of Education to remove lead pipes from the region’s schools.
36 #Halton schools have water taps with unacceptable lead levels.
WHO:"Children are particularly vulnerable to the neurotoxic effects of lead & even relatively low levels of exposure can cause serious…neurological damage." #HDSB #HCDSB https://t.co/oNYrX2ce9J— Fix Our Schools (@Fix_Our_Schools) September 25, 2018
After concerning findings of a national tainted water investigation, many jurisdictions across the country are calling for action, including demands for replacement of lead pipes running to homes and schools, replacement of lead fixtures in public buildings, better testing and increased transparency on results of lead testing. Experts agree there is no safe level of lead in water.
Oakville Mayor Burton’s concerns about lead in water in schools stem from findings that more than 2,400 schools and daycares in Ontario exceeded the federal guidelines for lead in water over the past two years, with some tests showing lead levels more than 200 times more than the federal safety standard. Burton said, “Since education has been starved for a long-time, I appreciate they weren’t rolling in money to go after the problem. It’s a provincial responsibility so we thought we would call on the Ministry of Education to get the lead out.”
Congrats to #Halton region for calling for a State of Good Repair standard for drinking water systems in Ontario schools. Every child deserves a healthy, safe, well-maintained school building! #onted #onpoli pic.twitter.com/6ZoG4vmtAE
— Fix Our Schools (@Fix_Our_Schools) December 9, 2019
Halton Region politicians also wrote a letter to Education Minister Stephen Lecce, asking for swift action to resolve lead in water in Ontario’s publicly funded schools. Mayor Burton said that if the provincial government fails to take action, that would be “an abdication of the province’s responsibility for schools“. Burton went on to say, “we just want the government to do its job, and I think anybody thinks the job of the ministry is to teach kids and keep them safe while they do it.”