Water managers in Canada are finding it increasingly difficult to jump the hurdles of jurisdictional fragmentation, broken relationships, data gaps, and unclear responsibilities to protect water resources. In contrast, there are regions in the world-particularly the European Union (EU)-that are aggressively working to solve intergovernmental challenges. This article compares the collaborative approach the EU has applied to develop and implement the Water Framework Directive (WFD) to the situation in Canada.
The article makes the case for improved water management in Canada characterized by a system with a stronger legal basis for water management, improved enforcement of standards and creative financing mechanisms.
For the full article, please visit Water Canada.
In a research project mentored by FLOW, Emilie Lagace considers the first decade of implementation of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) in the European Union (EU) to identify benefits that member states are deriving from the experience of multi-jurisdictional collaboration. The report explores the context of water governance in the EU to assess how Canada could potentially derive similar gains from a more collaborative approach to water management. Evidence from extensive interviews and a literature review suggests that the implementation of the WFD over the past ten years has generated five key benefits for the EU and its member states:
- Stronger transboundary institutions
- More effective working relationships
- Increased capability in water protection
- Better understanding of water resources
- More efficient water protection
The briefing note for this paper is entitled Shared Water One Framework: What Canada can Learn from EU Water Governance and is available for download here.
In this article, FLOW Member and Director of WWF-Canada's Freshwater Program, Tony Maas, introduces a recently released WWF report, Securing Environmental Flows in the Athabasca River. The report emphasizes the need to protect one of Canada's most remarkable rivers - the Athabasca. It calls for a new water management plan for the river that includes an Ecosystem Base Flow to establish a low-flow threshold in the river. Maas explains that we should take advantage of the current opportunity to protect the Athabasca River and “ignite a transformation of water policy across the nation—a transformation aimed at securing water for nature and water for people, for now and for future generations.”
FLOW staff member, Nancy Goucher, explains that while the intent of the proposed Bill S-11 is admirable, it may be fatally flawed. The Safe Drinking Water for First Nations Bill proposes to establish a legal regime for drinking and wastewater management on First Nations reserves - something that currently does not exist and leads to a whole host of problems, challenging access to safe drinking water for many First Nations. However, Bill S-11 may not adequately solve this problem due to concerns over a lack of dedicated resources to improve capacity, infrastructure and governance, the establishment of inconsistent regulations across the country and potential impacts on Aboriginal treaty rights.
In this Winnipeg Free Press opinion editorial, FLOW members Boyd and Phare explain why families in Canada - primarily First Nations - lack access to safe drinking water and indoor plumbing. They go on to suggest that the Government of Canada may be held liable for violating "the right to life, liberty, and security of the person and the right to equality in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms".
Linda Nowlan writes about the results of a new poll which found that 98 per cent of British Columbians feel fresh water is crucial to the prosperity and quality of life in B.C.
Nowlan suggests these results send a strong signal of support for reform to the B.C. Water Act. She highlights four changes to the Act that are needed:
- Put stream health first
- Change the rules around water governance
- Modernize water allocation
- Establish rules to protect groundwater
In this special to the Vancouver Sun, Brandes and Dobell argue that results of the McAllister Opinion Research Poll commissioned by the Vancouver Foundation and WWF-Canada indicate that B.C. residents believe water is the most important factor defining quality of life and economic and financial prosperity for the province. They also point out that residents are not happy with the existing water rules in B.C. and current efforts to modernize the B.C. Water Act is an important opportunity for the government to make a lasting foundational change toward a sustainable future.
FLOW member, Ralph Pentland, explains why the proposed federal legislation to ban bulk water exports needs further work.
This is a letter from the Canadian Water Issues Council (CWIC) to Minister Lawrence Cannon regarding Bill C-26, legislation introduced on May 13, 2010 aimed at banning bulk water exports.
CWIC is a group of knowledgeable water experts and former senior water policy makers who provide advice on transboundary water issues to the Program on Water Issues at the Munk School of Global Affairs at the University of Toronto.
The letter explains that the most likely proposals for the interbasin transfers of water from Canada to the United States are not addressed under the amendments to the IBWTA and IRIA as proposed in Bill C‐26.
It also suggests how the proposed legislation could be strengthened significantly with a very few additional changes.
Canwest report, Mike De Souza, covered the release of a FLOW-Ecojustice-CIER report, Seeking Water Justice: Strengthening Legal Protection of Canada's Drinking Water. The article highlights the need to ensure all Canadians have equal access to safe drinking water.
