Water Governance in Canada

Water resources are managed and influenced by various jurisdictions and actors in Canada – each playing an important role in the protection and conservation of water.

Key water policy actors:

• Federal Government
• Provincial Government
• Local Government
• Non-Government Organizations
• First Nations
• Intergovernmental Agencies

While progress is occurring in certain areas, Canadians are still vulnerable to current and emerging threats to water resources such as the impacts of climate change, the abuse of water for energy production, new pollutants, inconsistent drinking water quality, and the possibility of bulk water exports. Our vulnerability to these threats are due, in part, to the absence of a clear governance framework and overarching lack of national capacity to ensure the protection, conservation and sustainable use of our water resources. There are various reasons for this void:

1. Declining Federal interest in water issues – decreased funding and program cuts since the early 1990s, combined with a lack of political will and a general reluctance to exercise its key responsibilities, has led to a lack of oversight and coordination, especially in areas where there are overriding national interests.
2. Jurisdictional fragmentation – as the Canadian constitution divides power to legislate water among federal, provincial, territorial, First Nations government, no one government can develop a water management framework – the result being regulatory gaps and policy vacuums.
3. Complexity – the water governance framework is complex as it must address a broad range of water-related issues from land management to human health to agriculture.

To address these issues, FLOW joins a growing number of water policy experts and organizations across the country calling for a Canada-wide water strategy that sustains the essence of freshwater resources for the use and enjoyment of all Canadians.