Recently North Middlesex Municipal council has drastically changed the water and sewage rates for rate payers in the community.

This has meant that, during a pandemic, a time where many are already struggling financially, that some households have seen their water bills double (or more) per quarter.

The flat rate system means that those who conserve water and just simply do not use that much, are now paying the rates as if they used the assumed water usage of the new payment system.

Infrastructure and waste management fees have also increased significantly.

The information and consultation provided to the public ratepayers in regards to these changes is convoluted and very complicated to understand.

There seems to be no specific plan to cover the vast costs of years long infrastructure neglect aside from charging rate payers.

When asked to provide more details about the plan or future rates, both Municipal staff and council members who have been approached by the public fail to provide any specific answers.

We, the undersigned, ask that

1. The North Middlesex council hold at least one, if not several, well publicized and accessible virtual town halls, where all community members may:

    A. Ask questions of council and Municipal staff to better understand the history of the water concerns, as well as the future plans around rates and infrastructure improvements or repairs.

    B. Participate in a discussion around a solution to the water infrastructure crisis facing the community to examine alternate avenues aside from citizens footing the entire cost of these improvements.

2. North Middlesex municipality provide a more transparent and detailed plan of how these costs will be covered aside from rate payers.