Imagine, if you will, worrying about that basic need on a daily basis for years, with no known end in sight. It's a situation that seems ridiculous in this country, especially in light of the strict controls implemented following the Walkerton tragedies to protect groundwater sources.

Nonetheless, that is what it has been like for the Carlisle community and properties further north. Now that community is faced with the proposed St. Marys quarry application on the 11th Concession.

The Ministry of Environment now faces a decision about an application for a water-taking permit that holds my community's fate in their hands - at least for the short term. St. Marys has made an application to the MOE to allow testing of a mitigation system that has never been used in these circumstances.

What is the definition of mitigation? It means making unacceptable impacts less bad. Knowing that the Carlisle groundwater-based municipal water system has a well-documented history of both quantity and quality problems, combined with the knowledge that St. Marys' own consultants have written that there would be impacts from the quarry without mitigation, it boggles the mind that the testing could ever be allowed.

The City of Hamilton's public health department is on record as having serious concerns with this testing, along with the community and Hamilton City Council to boot. On February 27, council unanimously supported my motion calling on the provincial government to: