IQALUIT
After months of grumblings, Waterless Wednesdays was abruptly halted at a city council meeting April 26.

Coun. Joanasie Akumalik said he received a petition concerning Waterless Wednesdays with about 125 signatures. Council moved April 26 to suspend the initiative until administration can prove it is saving the city money. - Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

The initiative dates back to last summer when city administration decided to stop delivering water to homes on trucked-water service on Wednesdays to save money.

"I would like to suspend Waterless Wednesdays altogether, immediately, until the CAO can provide concrete evidence that the City of Iqaluit is actually saving money," Coun. Terry Dobbin told council.

His motion came after council decided to hold a committee of the whole meeting May 9 to find out from administration what savings Waterless Wednesdays has actually produced.

Thus far, said Dobbin, nothing has been proven.

"It's a basic human right," he said. "I can't see why (the CAO) can't provide the reasons for the savings. If people are going to have undue hardship, blizzards a couple times a week, no water, uncertainty, show us the numbers, show us some concrete evidence that the city is saving money."

Coun. Joanasie Akumalik said that about 125 residents had signed a petition on the issue.

"At the end of the day, people are wanting to know if the city has saved some money by not delivering water to the trucked service residents on Wednesdays," Akumalik said.

Coun. Kuthula Matshazi echoed Dobbin's thoughts.

"I think water is a fundamental right," he said.

To that end, continued Matshazi, it didn't appear fair that he got water seven days per week and other residents in the city got water only six days a week and had to pay a $250 callout fee if they wanted the same service. The inequality in service becomes segregation, he said.

"We are treating citizens differently," said Matshazi.

Council voted in favour of immediately suspending Waterless Wednesdays and going back to trucked-water delivery seven days per week, until administration can prove the city is saving money.

There will be a committee of the whole meeting on that subject May 9.