The proposed Act "puts in place new protections for water wells, specifically looking at qualifications for well drillers as well as protections in terms of the drilling and sealing of wells, and as well, formally recognizes in legislation the important role of aquifer management planning," said MackIntosh.

Manitoba released a discussion paper on the proposed legislative changes in March and requested public comments online. Comments received have not been made public, and the discussion paper is no longer available on the Government of Manitoba webpage dedicated to the proposed New Groundwater Act and Strategy.

"This Government needs to understand that simply putting a discussion paper up on a website is not consultation. The comments received need to be shared in an open and transparent manner, and greater efforts need to be made to engage the public," suggested Manitoba Wildlands Director Gaile Whelan Enns.

Whelan Enns also pointed out that new act deals only with drinking water wells. Wells drilled under the Manitoba's Mines and Minerals Act and/or Oil and Gas Act are specifically excluded from the new well rules.

"Fracking is one of the biggest current risks to the safety of our aquifers," said Gaile Whelans. "If this government wants to get serious about aquifer management planning, then it needs to address the impacts that fracking has on water quality."