FLOW Cross-country
October - November 2011
Northern Voices, Southern Choices:
Water Policy Lessons for Canada
Water is absolutely integral to our daily lives but we rarely consider whether it is being managed adequately. Canadians tend to believe we have a limitless supply of clean water but the reality is human activity, climate change and industrial development are reducing available water resources across the country, even if the most remote corners o the country.
The Government of Northwest Territories is an example of a jurisdiction that has recognized the need to strategically address threats to their water. They developed innovative approaches to managing complex water-related issues and articulated this through their water strategy, Northern Voices, Northern Waters. FLOW has written about this strategy in our Fall 2011 edition of the FLOW Monitor.
In October-November 2011, FLOW hosted a national discussion series to broadly share what it has learned with the hope of inspiring jurisdictions across the country to consider what they can do to better protect water supplies.
FLOW believes that in a time of decreasing government budgets, there should be more emphasis on increasing efficiencies through cross-jurisdictional learning. Citizens must also collectively play a greater role in understanding water management issues and shaping the future direction of water resources management in Canada.
Those attending the National Discussion Series learned:
- Why we need to improve water management to secure our social and economic future
- How climate and governance related factors are affecting Canada’s water resources
- How leading edge jurisdictions such as the Northwest Territories are finding innovative ways to protect water
- What people in the south can learn from water management experiences in the north
- What this means for protecting water in your own community
Read about the tour on the Adaptation to Climate Change Team's (SFU) blog
Thank you to our national partners:
- Walter and Duncan Gordon Foundation
- Rocky Mountain Books
- Water Canada Magazine
- The Walrus
- ACT (Adaptation to Climate Change Team), Simon Fraser University
- University of Victoria's POLIS Project on Ecological Governance
2011 Tour Cities and Dates
Robert W. Sandford, EPCOR Chair of the Canadian Partnership Initiative in support of United Nations “Water for Life” Decade, spoke in the following cities. Below, you will find a list of presenters and local partners involved in each of the discussions as well as links to articles and blogs covering the event.
- Regina, Saskatchewan, October 6
- Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, October 7
- Halifax, Nova Scotia, October 13
- Sydney, Nova Scotia, October 14
- Winnipeg, Manitoba, October 17
- Toronto, Ontario - October 24, 2011
- Waterloo, Ontario - October 25, 2011
- Montreal, Quebec - October 26
- Quebec City, Quebec - October 28
- Nelson, British Columbia - November 4
- Slocan Valley, British Columbia - November 5
- Vancouver, British Columbia - November 8
- Victoria, British Columbia - November 9
- Edmonton, Alberta - November 21
- Calgary, Alberta - Nobember 22
In the new year, we will take what we heard across Canada to Ottawa for the final stop on the tour. Details will be posted shortly.
Questions about the tour can be directed to Nancy Goucher.
Panel Session details
Regina
Date: Thursday, October 6 at 7pm
Coverage of the event:
Thank you to our local partners:
Saskatoon
Date: Friday, October 7, 1:45pm
Coverage of the event:
- blog on ACT website - here
- Star Pheonix article - here
- CBC news coverage (begin watching at 9:08) - here
Panelists:
- Patricia Gober, Professor, Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School of Policy
- John Pomeroy, Canada Research Chair and director, Centre for Hydrology
Moderator:
- Howard Wheater, Canada Excellence Research Chair and directorGlobal Institute for, Water Security
Thank you to our local partners:
- University of Saskatchewan School of Environment and Sustainability
- University of Saskatchewan Global Institute for Water Security
- Centre for Hydrology
- Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy
Halifax
Date: Thursday, October 13, 12:00 – 1:00pm
Coverage of the event:
- blog on ACT website - here
Thank you to our local partners:
Sydney
Date: Friday, October 14, 9:00 – 10:15am
Coverage of the event:
- blog on ACT website - here
Thank you to our local partners:
- Pitu'paq Partnership
- Nova Scotia Department of Economic and Rural Development and Tourism
- ICE - Indigenous Collaborative on the Environment
- Nova Scotia Climate Change Directorate
Winnipeg, MB
Date: Monday, October 17, 6:30 – 8:00pm
Coverage of the event:
- blog on ACT website - here
Panelists:
- Merrell-Ann Phare, Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources
- Norm Brandson, Forum for Leadership on Water
- Vicki Burns, Lake Winnipeg Project
Moderated by: Helen Fallding, Centre for Human Rights Research Initiative
Thank you to our local partners:
- Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources
- Centre for Human Rights Research Initiative
- Watershed Systems Research Program, University of Manitoba
Toronto
Date: Monday, October 24, 6:30 – 9:00pm
Coverage of the event:
- blog on ACT website - here
Panelists:
- Tony Maas, Freshwater Director, WWF Canada
- Brenda Lucas, Senior Advisor, Blue Economy Initiative
- Rob de Loe, University Research Chair in Water Policy and Governance, University of Waterloo
Moderated by: Lynn Patterson, RBC Blue Water Project
Thank you to our local partner:
Waterloo
Date: Tuesday, October 25
Time: 6:00 - 8:30pm
Coverage of the event:
Panelists:
- Chris Burns, NSERC Northern Research Chair, Carleton University
- David Livingstone, Environmental Consultant, Government of Northwest Territories
- Stephen Kakfwi, Former Premier, Northwest Territories
Moderator:
- Richard Patrone, Director of the Cold Regions Research Centre, Wilfried Laurier University
Welcoming Remarks:
- Deb MacLatchy, Vice-President: Academic and Provost, Wilfrid Laurier University
Thank you to our local partners:
Montreal
Date: Wednesday, October 26, 6:30 – 8:00pm
Coverage of the event:
- blog on ACT website - here
Panelist:
- Murray Clamen, former Secretary to the International Joint Commission
Moderated by: Nancy Goucher, Forum for Leadership on Water
Thank you to our local partner
Quebec City
Date: Friday, October 28, 12h – 13:30h
Coverage of the event:
- blog on ACT website - here
Panelist:
- Marc Hudon, Senior Advisor to the St. Lawrence River-Great Lakes program at Nature Quebec
Moderated by: Christian Simard, Director of Nature Quebec
Thank you to our local partner:
Nelson
Date: Friday, November 4 at 7:00pm
Thank you to our partner:
Slocan Valley
Date: Saturday, November 5 at 7pm
Thank you to our partner:
Vancouver
Date: Tuesday, November 8
Coverage of the event:
Panelists:
- Oliver Brandes, POLIS Water Sustainability Project Lead
- Jon O'Riordan, Senior Advisor, Adaptation to Climate Change Team, Simon Fraser University
Moderated by: Deborah Harford, Executive Director, ACT (Adaptation to Climate Change Team), Simon Fraser University
Thank you to our local partners:
- ACT (Adaptation to Climate Change Team), Simon Fraser University
- University of Victoria's POLIS Project on Ecological Governance
Victoria
Date: Wednesday, November 9, 2:30 – 4:30pm
Coverage of the event:
Panelists:
- Oliver Brandes, POLIS Water Sustainability Project Lead
- Jon O'Riordan, Senior Advisor, Adaptation to Climate Change Team, Simon Fraser University
Moderated by:
Rod Dobell, Professor Emeritus of Public Policy;
Senior Research Associate, Centre for Global Studies; and Associate, POLIS Project on Ecological Governance, University of Victoria
Thank you to our local partners:
- University of Victoria's POLIS Project on Ecological Governance
- Centre for Global Studies, University of Victoria
- ACT (Adaptation to Climate Change Team), Simon Fraser University
Edmonton and Calgary
Date: November 21 (Edmonton) and November 22 (Calgary)
Coverage of the event:
Moderated by:
- Dr. Roger Gibbins, President and CEO of Canada West Foundation
Thank you to our local partner:
