Legislation: Bill S229

Hundreds of thousands of kilometres of pipes and cables are buried across Canada. This infrastructure provides the essential services that are the lifeblood for our communities and of our way of life, including clean water, heat, power, cell service and internet. Damaging a buried utility is dangerous for the workers involved and can deprive homes and businesses of essential services. Each year, damage to underground infrastructure costs Canadians more than $1 billion.

To ensure the safety of our workers, to help protect the integrity of our buried utility network and to preserve our essential services, Canada needs damage prevention legislation.

Bill S-229, the Underground Infrastructure Safety Enhancement Act, will soon be placed before parliament. In order for Bill S-229 to pass the House of Commons, Canada’s ground disturbance and damage prevention communities need to show their support.

Let your MP know that protecting Canada’s underground infrastructure is important to you by visiting ICanDigSafe.ca, where you can select a pre-written letter of support to be sent to your Member of Parliament directly from the website.

And show your support online by following @CanadianCGA on Twitter and posting with the hashtag #SupportS229.

Your voice matters. Your support will move Bill S-229 forward.

Include ICanDigSafe.ca in your next presentation

Call your MP and request a meeting

Sending a letter to your MP requesting they support Bill S229 is great but nothing can replace the effectiveness of a one-on-one meeting. Below, you'll find a form letter to help you request a meeting with your MP as well as a "report card" to report back to the CCGA on how your meeting went. Please send report cards to info@CanadianCGA.com

Bill S229 infographic

After you have a successful meeting with your MP, please include our infographic as a leave-behind item along with a copy of the CCGA's latest DIRT Report.

Social Media

The ABCGA and the CCGA will be posting tweets promoting the microsite and letter of support. Our tweets will include the hashtag #SupportS229, as well as #ClickBeforeYouDig and #DigSafe (space permitting). Whenever you get the opportunity, please retweet posts including these hashtags.

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