Nicole Hancock
Indigenous community hosts full moon ceremony ...

Kristen Villebrun and Wendy Bush hoped they wouldn't have to pray for Chedoke Creek, but four years after they first raised alarm about the water's condition, they were part of an Indigenous full moon ceremony to do just that. About 50 people showed up near Princess Point on the dark and frigid Monday evening for the monthly ceremony, which was particularly special as it focused on Chedoke Creek. The body of water that runs into Cootes Paradise had about 24 billion litres of sewage and storm water runoff leak into it due to a gate being left open.

Indigenous community hosts full moon ceremony to heal Chedoke Creek

Prince Edward Island Water Act

OPINION: P.E.I.'s Water Act: A conservation strategy or an irrigation strategy?

OPINION: P.E.I.'s Water Act: A conservation strategy or an irrigation strategy?

The King government has repeatedly emphasized that decisions about water use will always be based on careful science and sound data in order to sustain the water source for future generations. However, their recent and abrupt decision to end the moratorium on high-capacity wells for agriculture reflects none of these values. Communications from government about this decision offer us empty rhetoric and baseless reassurances, telling us how nonexistent policies and undeveloped plans will protect our water.

OPINION: The Water Act process: From exemplary public consultation to industry-led policy

OPINION: The Water Act process: From exemplary public consultation to industry-led policy

It took seven years, but now Prince Edward Island finally proclaimed a Water Act. There are certainly reasons to celebrate this. The act contains guiding values that recognize water as a common good and a public trust. There is acknowledgment of the precautionary principle and the need to preserve water for future generations. Yet, how much the act will help to remedy the poor track record of the government and its departments in protecting PEI’s waters remains to be seen.

Taking water from stressed rivers during drought not allowed under new P.E.I. Water Act, says official

Taking water from stressed rivers during drought not allowed under new P.E.I. Water Act, says official

An incident last summer where water was drawn for irrigation from the Dunk River in central P.E.I. during a drought would not be allowed under the new Water Act, says the province's manager of water and air monitoring. Bruce Raymond made the comments while appearing before a standing committee of the legislature. Last summer, five farmers in the Kinkora-Bedeque region were allowed to use surface water in the Dunk in August despite that waterway being 5 centimetres below levels when water use should be cut off, according to current provincial regulations.

Follow us