She had only praise for her former colleagues in government and grew agitated when we questioned her about responsibility for the breakdown of Walkerton's water supply. Nonetheless, Fisher did paint a devastating portrait of the impact of the water crisis on the community. Many, if not most people thrown out of work by the water shutoff and decline in local commerce, do not qualify for unemployment insurance or welfare. Particularly problematic is the care of the children. Schools in the town have been closed since the e-coli outbreak was publicly revealed and students are being sent to nearby communities for the remainder of the school year.
Recreational facilities are also closed and sports activities have been largely suspended.
Some parents who had their children in daycare are now relying on friends and family because the daycare centers have also been closed. Others have been forced to take leave from work to look after their children. Barb Fisher claimed that the money the Ontario government has provided to date is adequate to meet immediate needs, yet also said she was launching a campaign to solicit corporate and private donations nation-wide. When pressed as to why she was seeking non-government aid, if the government's support was sufficient, Fisher said she feared many businesses would soon go under, further damaging the town's future. We don't quite frankly, at this stage of the game, have enough time to wait.