Floyd Gadd is the sole proprietor of a small service-based business in the City of Regina. He owns a home in Ward 7.
This year, the City of Regina implemented a program of installing new water meters in residential properties throughout the city.
Unlike the meters they are replacing, the new meters transmit information hourly about water usage to the Regina water utility. The reporting of water usage at this frequency constitutes an hourly reporting to the city of levels of home occupancy.
This program has been imposed unilaterally by the city, and to date, I have not received any indication that Regina residents will be given the opportunity to opt out of this intrusive collection of private information.
I have written to the Regina water utility, and to the Mayor and City Councillors voicing my concern. Our local councillor, Terina Nelson, has responded sympathetically, but otherwise, there has been no acknowledgement that I am voicing a legitimate concern.
I have not yet consented to the installation of the new water meter in my home, as I understand that doing so before speaking up would represent tacit consent on my part to a wrong that is being perpetrated against all of the residents of this city. My failure to permit installation by the deadlines set by the city has resulted in my receiving notice that I can expect to be assessed penalties, and may experience interruption of service.
I am essentially being told that if I do not, by my actions, endorse this invasion of the privacy of my fellow residents of Regina, I can expect to be denied straight-forward access to one of the necessities of life.