Too many Ontario industries are getting off cheap when it comes to the H2O they draw from the ground, Ontario’s acting environmental commissioner warns.

“Not only do most industries get a total free ride, but the few industries that do pay are charged only $3.71 for every million litres of water,” Ellen Schwartzel cautioned in the 175-page annual report released Tuesday.

“This small charge works out to less than $10 for enough water to fill an Olympic-size swimming pool,” added Schwartzel, who is filling in while a replacement for retired commissioner Gord Miller is hired.

Critics said the price on water is too low, given the impact on watersheds like the Grand River by heavy usage from municipal water systems, sand and gravel operations, golf courses, agriculture and bottled water firms.

“It’s outrageous the Liberal government is allowing these companies to essentially rip off our water,” said Green Leader Mike Schreiner, noting a half-litre bottle of water typically sells for $2.

Environment Minister Glen Murray said a new water policy is coming within six months to address concerns, bearing in mind whether the water is taken for good or “borrowed” by companies using it, treating it and putting it back in the watershed.

“If you’re taking water and putting it in plastic bottles and selling it back at almost the price of gasoline, that water is not coming back,” Murray told reporters.

The Canadian Bottled Water Association said Ontario’s system is now flawed because its members, who use 0.02 per cent of the water resources, pay the $3.71 fee but many other industries do not.

“We don’t have an issue paying a fair price as long as everyone else is paying the same,” said spokeswoman Elizabeth Griswold, who added that’s the best way to “protect the resource.”

The Association of Municipalities of Ontario said it’s concerned about Schwartzel's suggestion that all organizations that draw water in bulk, including local water systems, pay a phased-in levy of a one-tenth of a cent per litre, since that could mean raising rates for homeowners.

“It would be moving property tax dollars to the provincial treasury,” said spokeswoman Pat Vanini.

Highlights from the report

Birds: Ontario has all but ignored the plight of migratory birds flying into buildings to their deaths because of reflected light. “Often it looks as if they’re flying into parkland, when, in fact, it’s a wall of windows,” said Schwartzel, who wants the government to force building owners to take preventative measures, such as window screens to cut reflections.

Provincial parks: The province’s treasured parks are showing signs of age, wear and tear, invasive plant species and popularity, Schwartzel warned. “In some cases, it’s a case of parks being loved to death, very popular beaches and so on.” She cited a bay at Darlington Provincial Park that has been cut off from Lake Ontario, leaving its water salty and too hot. “These problems . . . are largely going unaddressed by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.”

Environmental registry: Described as a “vital tool” for citizens tracking the province’s progress on environmental issues, the website is outdated and “badly needs an overhaul,” Schwartzel recommended. “It is truly not suited for mobile devices, an effect that’s cutting out the whole younger generation of Ontarians who want to have their say . . . this should be an easy fix.” The environment ministry has agreed.

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Conservation lands: In the last five years, Ontario’s budget for acquiring natural lands to conserve from development for future generations has fallen to just $1,000 from $5.1 million, Schwartzel said. That amount is so small it’s not good omen for Ontario’s ability to meet the target of 17 per cent protected land by 2020, under a United National biological diversity convention. Parks and reserves are now 10.2 per cent of Ontario’s land.

Spring Bear Hunt: The report is critical of the government's decision to revive the spring bear hunt, scrapped in 1999 when the plight of orphaned and starving cubs caused a political headache for the previous administration. The move resulted in increasing complaints about "nuisance" bears and conflicts with humans. Schwartzel said the decision to resume the hunt around five northern cities as a pilot project in 2014 was made on "incomplete information," ignoring recommendations from a nuisance bear review committee. "Communities and residents still have much to do in eliminating or reducing attractants for bears."