Letter sent to the Department of Municipal Affairs by Concerned Citizens

Minister of Municipal Affairs & Provincial Affairs

Department of Municipal Affairs 
P. O. Box 8700
St. John's, NL
A1B 4J6

Dear Minister Haggie,

We are writing to file a formal complaint concerning serious and long-standing failures by the municipal government of New-Wes-Valley to protect public health and meet its obligations under the Towns and Local Service Districts Act and relevant provincial water quality regulations.

It has come to our attention that for at least ten years, the municipality has failed to adequately inform residents about dangerously high levels of trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs) in our drinking water.  Based on available water quality reports, these levels are consistently 3 to 5 times higher than the Health Canada Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality.

This situation raises extremely serious concerns, including:
1. Failure to notify the public: The Town Council has not made residents aware of the elevated toxin levels, in violation of basic transparency and public health responsibilities.
2. Prolonged non-compliance: Despite known risks, there appears to be little or no attempt to remediate the problem or communicate mitigation plans.
3. Potential breach of duty of care: This failure may have exposed residents — including vulnerable populations — to increased health risks without informed consent or precautionary guidance.

This ongoing neglect undermines public trust and potentially endangers the health of hundreds, if not thousands, of residents. I respectfully request that your Department:
   •   Launch an immediate investigation into the Town Council's handling of drinking water safety and public notification protocols;
   •   Initiate a formal audit of municipal operations regarding environmental and public health compliance;
   •   Consider appointing a municipal administrator or other oversight if warranted by findings;
   •   Ensure residents are properly informed and protected moving forward.

We are prepared to provide water test data, government-issued reports, and other documentation to support this complaint. We would also welcome the opportunity to speak directly with officials from your office about this matter.

Thank you for your attention and for your commitment to safeguarding public health and good governance.


Sincerely,

 

Concerned Citizens of New-Wes-Valley


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Location: New-Wes-Valley, NL, Canada

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