By NICK LYPACZEWSKI TIMES-JOURNAL

Elgin-Middlesex-London MP Joe Preston says he wants to blow H2O thieves out of the water.

A private member's bill tabled by Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MP Larry Miller made it past first reading this week thanks in part to his Conservative colleague, Preston.

The bill -- titled An Act to amend the International Boundary Waters Treaty Act and the International River Improvements Act -- is an updating of both acts to further strengthen prohibitions on bulk water removal and diversion. Preston seconded the bill after its first reading Dec. 13.

"He (Miller) and I discussed it (the bill) a lot . . . He had told me he was working on this bulk water export bill and -- because of my connection to the Great Lakes with Lake Erie in our riding and living on the Great Lakes where my cottage is also -- they're near and dear to me," Preston told the Times-Journal from Ottawa.

According to Preston's office, the act gives the federal government new inspection and enforcement powers and introduces more updated penalties for violations, including a fine of up to $6 million for corporate culprits.

Bulk water removal is currently illegal but Preston says the new measures would curtail violators by providing more punishment than those offered through 1985's original International Boundary Waters Treaty and International River Improvements acts.

"Some of this boundary treaty stuff was written at a time when the penalties wouldn't have been as severe," Preston said.

"This is simply strengthening -- and that's why it says in the press release -- it's strengthening some of the stuff that's already there. I guess my understanding is: the greater the piece of legislation, the more chance we have of defending ourselves if we ever have to."

Preston and Miller sit near each other in Parliament and Preston also has a cottage in Miller's riding.

While Preston says he didn't help Miller shape the bill, he told the Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MP he wanted to be the one to second it when it was brought forward. Preston says he expects the issue will be reintroduced in spring for a second reading, sent to the house's Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development and then back for third reading.

"It takes a while to get a private member's bill passed but in a majority situation, it's more likely that it will be," Preston added.