That is an assumption that is not totally true;
"Living in an area of abundant clean water I find that statement difficult to comprehend."
At the end of previous century I used to go fishing and camping on the Ottawa River and waters adjoining west of Ottawa to almost North Bay. I bathed in the waters but to drink always boiled water. That is what I was told to do.
Why you ask.
No matter how clean the water looks there are pathogens in it and some can make you seriously ill.
I suspect northern Ontario waters are not much safer than the tributaries of the Ottawa.

And Crazytrade, you should change your nick name to something like SensibleTrader, but about the following:
"If FNs don;t want to move then they must allow development."

Ever try to convince them of that, you seem to have some insight about them, Good Luck. Bigger problem are the Greens who assume any development is maddness.