Doug Fischer
The Ottawa Citizen
Friday, April 30, 2004

   KILLALOE - Rural frustration about new drinking water regulations boiled over into anger against governments last night at a raucous public meeting with provincial environment officials.
   Owners of campgrounds, bed and breakfasts, restaurants and other small businesses expressed concern about the new regulations, saying they threatened rural life.
   Many were upset by the complexities of the water regulations, which require engineering inspections and frequent testing that they say will be far too expensive and drive them out of business.
   "We won't let city people who don't understand our way of life take our lives away," said one campground owner.
   The meeting, that drew about 500 people packed into the local public school gym, is the latest in a series across Renfrew and Lanark Counties, staged to allow residents to vent anger at what they say is increasing government interference in their way of life.
   Residents are frustrated at high taxes and new health and environmental regulations that they say are being forced down their

© The Ottawa Citizen 2004