ANTI-SCALDING DEVICE REQUIREMENT INSANE: RUNCIMAN
BROCKVILLE -- A new provincial
requirement that will force Ontario residents
to install anti-scald devices on new and rented
water heaters is “insane”, declared
Bob Runciman, MPP for Leeds-Grenville and Leader
of the Official Opposition.
The veteran MPP thought it was a joke when
he was informed the Ministry of Municipal Affairs
and Housing had changed the Building Code to
include the requirement for this $200 device
to be placed on all new water heaters including
rental heaters effective March 15.
It’s no joke and Runciman expects residents
will be furious when they receive notification
from energy suppliers and companies that sell
and rent water heaters.
A spokesman for the ministry said the requirement
was added to the code after receiving input
from the public, doctors, medical institutions
and advocacy groups.
The device that becomes a permanent addition
to the home’s plumbing system is designed
to prevent hot water scalding. By mixing cold
water with the tank water, temperature is reduced
from the normal 60 C to 48 C or less.
“The McGuinty government continues to
re-enforce its version of Ontario as the ‘nanny
state’,” said Runciman.
“This government wants to control every
element of our lives; its goal is to remove
personal responsibility from everyone’s
lives. Other ridiculous new regulations will
prohibit groups from having potluck suppers,
and selling baked goods and canned preserves
to the public.”
This new requirement will be a tremendous hardship
on the poor and seniors on fixed incomes.
Thousands of Ontario residents have already
been hit with demands by oil suppliers and insurance
companies to produce safety certificates for
heating equipment and fuel tanks. This has been
costly for citizens and many people feel they
have had to replace fuel tanks prematurely because
these certificates can be obtained only from
the same people who sell the tanks.
“What really offends me about this new
regulation is that it requires people to spend
money to fix a problem that rarely occurs,”
said Runciman. “Many citizens have trouble
enough paying their energy bills and this just
compounds their agony.”
Runciman said with each new requirement and
regulation that intrudes on people’s lives
he expects vociferous outrage from Ontario’s
citizens.
“I am constantly amazed at how compliant
people are to some very outlandish intrusions,”
he said.
Media Contact
Don Swayne
Executive Assistant
(613) 342-9522
