The Ford government is proposing changes that would allow hundreds of mineral exploration companies to take water for early-stage work without a permit.

The province says alterations to the Water Resources Act are intended “to accelerate critical mineral development in Ontario, boost the province’s economy and support job creation.”

The changes will “reduce burden and duplicative requirements for the mining industry and streamline approvals,” says Ontario’s environment ministry.

Under the proposal, mining companies could draw water from lakes larger than 10 hectares, ponds not connected to streams or rivers and from permanent streams.

Provincial regulations define early-stage mineral exploration as the first step in mining, when companies search for potential mineral deposits and assess whether a site could be developed over the years into a mine. It doesn’t include the later stages, like building a mine or extracting the minerals.

But that doesn’t mean the impact isn’t widespread. According to Natural Resources Canada, in 2023, there were 2,580 mineral exploration projects in Canada, with companies spending $2.9 billion, including $660.8 million in Ontario.

Ontario remains one of the country’s most active mineral exploration regions, with 530 active exploration projects involving 244 companies and drillers completing 2.2 million metres of core drilling to locate and evaluate mineral deposits.

The Ford government is proposing changes that would allow hundreds of mineral exploration companies to take water for early-stage work without a permit.

Experts interviewed by *Canada’s National Observer *warn that Ontario’s water systems are already under pressure from climate change, land development and population growth. They say it is even more essential now to review water-taking permits carefully and to assess how multiple permits affect the same water sources.

The province says any water taken would have to be returned to the same watershed and surface water withdrawals would require an intake structure. Groundwater use must not harm nearby wells, water sources or other users.

Companies would also be required to implement erosion and sediment controls, and any water released back into the environment would have to be clean.

Despite strong public opposition, the Ford government has already made changes to Ontario’s long-standing water-use rules that allow companies to renew or take over water-taking permits more easily. Companies can also assume permits that were previously cancelled, revoked or expired.

The auditor general has also raised concerns about earlier changes to the government’s water-taking permits, noting that the province has not clearly explained how it assesses the risks and potential environmental impacts.

The auditor general recommended the environment ministry introduce mandatory fields in all proposal notices to describe the anticipated environmental impacts of proposed water takings. The ministry rejected the recommendation.

Ontario does not maintain a public record of how many companies hold water-taking permits, how many new or transfer applications are in process, or how much water is withdrawn each day.

Rebecca Kolarich, program manager for water at Environmental Defence, said the large number of companies taking water for these activities could create cumulative impacts across the province, and she warns that these impacts should not be ignored.

The proposed changes, she said, remove the usual checks and balances, benefiting only industry while preventing local communities from commenting on potential impacts to their water sources.

Local communities often know their lands and waters better than outside companies, and removing permits reduces transparency and oversight, said Kolarich.

This is the second time in a few months the government has moved to streamline water-taking permits for industry, a pattern Kolarich finds concerning.

Any water extraction carries risks, including groundwater depletion, harm to ecosystems and habitat degradation, she added. These risks can be assessed and mitigated through the permitting process. Removing permits means companies may operate without fully understanding the consequences.

The amount of water may not be the main issue — the fact that permits were previously required shows there is potential for impact, she said.

Without permits, there is no prior assessment or monitoring, so problems could go unnoticed until communities are affected and some damage, such as contamination, may be irreversible, Kolarich said.

Water-taking in Ontario has previously sparked strong public backlash, especially around bottled water. A permit renewal for Nestlé’s former bottling plant near Guelph drew thousands of public comments. Polling suggests over [68 per cent of Ontarians](https://assets.nationbuilder.com/wellingtonwaterwatchers/pages/1592/attachments/original/1695785754/374570247-Mainstreet-Ontario-Mar21-WW.pdf?1695785754#:~:text=22%20MARCH%202018%20(TORONTO%2C%20ON,bottled%20water%20extraction%20in%20Ontario.) — across all political affiliations — supported phasing out water-bottling permits entirely.

A study conducted by a coalition of environmental groups found early-stage mineral exploration can affect water, especially when many projects take place in the same region and impacts can become significant when exploration activity is widespread. Land-clearing and test work can remove vegetation, disturb wetlands and riverbeds, cause erosion and increase sediment in nearby streams.

Drilling also carries risks, such as groundwater contamination from fuel or drilling fluids, drawing water from rivers or wetlands for drilling and, in some cases, creating pathways that connect surface and groundwater.

Experts warn without strict oversight, mining can drain rivers and aquifers, increase water pollution and harm ecosystems.