Chapter 15 | Water Policy and the Green Transition

Key Messages

Canadians are starting to realize the climate crisis is a water crisis as they observe fundamental challenges related to flooding, droughts, wildfires, and water quality issues
Water rights are interconnected with land rights and Indigenous rights, yet colonial approaches still dominate
Water is fundamentally viewed as a resource for human and economic use, not as a human right or in terms of sustainability to entire ecosystem
Water is important in all regions in Canada and water issues vary by region
Powerful vested water users have embedded water rights that permeate water politics
Water quantity and water quality policy regimes have evolved separately, yet Canada’s Green Transition requires integrated, One Water and natural infrastructure approaches
Canadians and politicians take water for granted
Indigenous perspectives, knowledges and approaches need to be central to a policy shift based on different values to support a Green Transition
Traditional water science historically critical to water policy and water data from variety of sources increasingly recognized as critical to a Green Transition
Perspectives predominantly have a domestic focus; limited engagement and learning from innovative water governance perspectives on the world stage

Historical legacies related to water quality and quantity
Water is subject to multiple uses and abuses; yet low levels of user engagement in governance processes
Mature governance and policy processes related to basins and watersheds across Canada
Liberal government announced commitment to establish a Canada Water Agency in 2019 and had national engagement process, yet still not fully established or adequately funded
Public opinion research indicates Canadians value water highly but are not active participants in water governance and policy, expect governments to protect and govern water
Value of water is not fully costed in water use and allocation processes from an economic, social, cultural, ecosystem or environmental perspective

Water is subject to an intergovernmental set of policies, with asymmetrical responsibility residing with the provinces
Some intergovernmental work through Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment yet important perspectives absent (Indigenous, municipal etc.)
Lack of a federal leadership role for decades; low political priority related to climate change and green transition agenda
Canada Water Act not updated since 1970; Federal Water Policy since 1987
Clear policy goals related to fishable, swimmable, drinkable waters in basins such as the Great Lakes Basin with mature policy implementation regimes, yet dependent on government-led implementation

Need for fundamental paradigm and value shift related to water
Need to modernize national policy framework in collaboration with Indigenous communities, provinces and municipalities
Need for more intergovernmental policy capacity related to water
Need to integrate water into current climate policies and priorities
Prioritize engagement and responsibilities of all water users
Provide investments in Canada Water Agency that reflect current and future value of freshwater as a national priority
Need for national investment in water data (surface and groundwater), particularly related to climate change, Indigenous knowledge, community science and open data
Need to support existing policies at watershed scale which provide flexibility for regional differentiation and federalism, but still have strong water and climate outcomes
Need for innovation in water policies that address Canadian priorities for equity across vulnerable communities, such as supporting substantive partnerships with Indigenous communities, water as a human right and affordable access to water
Emphasize costs of inaction in Canada and globally, if water is neglected as part of the Green Transition