Water Security for Canadians: Making the Federation Work for Water
Monday, December 2, 2019
11:30:00 AM CST – 1:00:00 PM CST
This webinar will explore how the federal government can provide leadership and better exercise its jurisdiction to help prevent Canada’s emerging water crisis. The speakers will outline a number of specific, achievable activities that could position Canada as a global leader in water prediction, management, and sustainability. Most of Canada’s major river and lake basins are transboundary, yet water management decisions are made locally—through provincial and Indigenous jurisdictions. Because waters cut across jurisdictional boundaries, rights and responsibilities, a more integrated approach to planning at the river basin level requires all orders of government to work together. John Pomeroy (Global Water Futures) will discuss the urgency to act now, offering an overview of water issues in Canada, including provincial and territorial water policies and the status of the Canada Water Act. Highlighting recent agreements in the Mackenzie Basin as an example of what is possible, Merrell-Ann Phare (Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources) will discuss Indigenous water rights and reconciliation between Crown and Indigenous governments. Oliver M. Brandes (POLIS Water Sustainability Project) will then discuss the jurisdictional, institutional, and law reform priorities needed. This panel will be moderated by Rosie Simms (POLIS Water Sustainability Project) and will draw on the recent concept paper “Water Security for Canadians: Solutions for Canada’s Water Sustainability and Climate-Related Water Crisis” (April 2019), which makes the case for renewal of the Canada Water Act as a vehicle to enhance federal government engagement in water policy and governance. This special session of Creating a Blue Dialogue is hosted by the POLIS Water Sustainability Project in partnership with the Canadian Water Resources Association, Forum for Leadership on Water (FLOW), and Global Water Futures.
The Creating a Blue Dialogue webinar series has been hosted since 2010 by the POLIS Water Sustainability Project at the Centre for Global Studies, University of Victoria. The series brings together expert water practitioners and thinkers, as well as emerging water leaders, to engage with innovative ideas on water policy and governance in Canada. By creating an online community of interest, the series strengthens the national capacity to engage with and solve problems, and raises awareness about emerging Canadian water issues, best practices, and policies.