Some of those attending a Nestlé Waters Canada information session in Puslinch Wednesday night felt their questions were being dodged.
About 60 people attended the information session at the Puslinch Community Centre, one of two the company has planned. The other is tonight in Hillsburgh.
The session started with Nestlé president Adam Graves stating he hears the concerns and misinformation that's out there and hopes the community session will be able to clear up a lot the questions that exist.
“I believe the best way for us to engage as partners in the community is to have a respectful dialogue,” said Graves.
“We have to do a better job of telling our story. Telling our story as a company and the facts that support our story and you have my commitment to doing that in a transparent and purposeful manner,” said Graves.
In a closed mic session, people submitted their answers prior to the session for a panel of Nestlé representatives to answer.
Those questions included ones about the environment, the community and Nestlé as a business.
But that didn't stop members of Wellington Water Watchers from interrupting the panellists when they felt their questions were being dodged.
Wellington Water Watchers board member Susan McSherry said she thinks Nestlé forgets the human issues that are at hand and felt that the questions she asked were not being answered because Nestlé spoke in a corporate tone.
“They talk about transparency and dialogue and conversation, yet they don't allow a dialogue and conversation. This meeting was completely controlled,” said McSherry.
“One of the thing Adam said that I found interesting, and is true, is they have to satisfy the investors and the shareholders. He said that first, and the second was the community. Do we need to be bottling water when we can turn on our tap?”
Wellington Water Watchers' Mike Balkwill said his question was not answered pertaining to Nestlé’s operations in France where he said Nestlé reduced the aquifer by 30 cm a year for 30 years, almost to the point of depletion.
“First of all, she denied that there was any problem here but that wasn't the question, she said if there was evidence to have an impact on the aquifer, they would then do something and she was vague about what that was,” said Balkwill.
McSherry said they still fail to address the Six Nation issues referring to the roughly 200 people from the Six Nations and the Wellington Water Watchers that marched Aberfoyle to Nestlé Waters Canada gate a year ago.
“If you have such a wonderful relation with our First Nations, and the people who are dealing with huge water issues down there, what are you doing for them? Why are you not engaging and responding to them?” said McSherry.
“They misdirect you from the actual issues. This was a perfect example. and it came from the people we’re supposed to believe in terms of the information and data they're providing.”
Director of corporate affairs Jennifer Kerr said the purpose of a closed mic session was to answer as many questions as possible.
“It's hard to say why people believe what they believe or where they get their information from,” said Kerr.
“Everything that we do is in our annual report and its public knowledge. It's on our website.
Nestlé is approaching the time to submit a renewal application for water taking permits as the two-year moratorium on expanded and new permits initiated by former premier Kathleen Wynne come closer to expiring, Graves said its important for them as a company to tell their story.
