Want to celebrate Water Day on March 22nd? Well, the Canadian and the U.S. Government have decided to secretly make their own trade deals, while backing out of International water protection policies, hmmm, I wonder why? Can we say MONEY over the welfare of Canadians? British Columbia and Alberta are already looking at shortages in the future, while New Brunswick has one of the poorest water qualities in North America...And yet, behind closed doors, our Government is selling it right under our apathetic noses...Here is some info, AND a chance to tell Harper that he is making some grave mistakes.
Canada needs a National Water Policy
-www.Canadians.org
National Water Policy postcard to send to the Prime Minister.
Water is vital to people’s health and livelihoods. In Canada, there is no national strategy to address urgent water issues and no federal leadership to conserve and protect our water. The Federal Water Policy is over 20 years old and badly outdated. There is a growing list of crises facing our freshwater including contamination, shortages and pressure to export water to the United States through pipelines and diversions.
It is time for the Government of Canada to implement a comprehensive National Water Policy.
Bulk water exports
Canada and the United States share interconnected water systems. The Great Lakes hold 20 per cent of the world’s fresh water, providing drinking water to 45 million people. The Great Lakes Annex agreement, signed in December 2005 by Ontario, Quebec and eight U.S. states, will allow diversions through permissive exceptions, while not guaranteeing a strong role for the government of Canada to preserve and protect its water supply. North Dakota is just one state that is facing water shortages and looking north for a new supply through diversions or interbasin transfers. Bulk water exports and diversions would leave Canada’s water vulnerable to environmental depletion and to international trade challenges that could permanently open the floodgates to parched U.S. states.
A new National Water Policy must ban the export of water, implement strict restrictions on diversions, and affirm the role of the federal government in international water issues.
In April 2007, the Council of Canadians obtained a leaked document produced by a Washington think tank, revealing that business and government leaders in Canada, the U.S. and Mexico are actively discussing bulk water exports. They met in Calgary on April 27, 2007 to discuss the issue in a closed-door meeting as part of a larger discussion on North American integration.
Water contamination
In 2000, seven people died in the community of Walkerton, Ontario when their drinking water was contaminated with E. coli virus. In 2001, more than 7,000 people were made sick during a three-month period by parasite-infected water in North Battleford, Saskatchewan. In 2005, people in Kasechewan, a Cree community in Ontario, were forced to evacuate their homes because of water contamination. According to the Government of Canada, municipalities issue hundreds of boil water advisories a year, most as the result of water contamination. Since December 16, 2005, 74 boil water advisories have been issued for First Nations communities in Canada. These numbers show an alarming trend.
A new National Water Policy must create national clean drinking water standards.
Privatization of drinking water
Communities across the country are in desperate need of money to pay for water pipes and filtration systems, which are now the responsibility of municipal governments. These governments are now looking to private investors to rebuild infrastructure through public-private-partnerships (P3s). Water is a public health and safety concern and is best managed, regulated and financed by public systems that are accountable to the community. When for-profit interests control drinking water, quality decreases and cost increases.
A new National Water Policy must commit to a federal government investment plan for municipalities.
The growing crisis of water shortages
Water is essential for all life, but it is a finite resource. Even in Canada, a water-rich nation, one quarter of Canadian municipalities have faced shortages and currently one third rely on groundwater — a resource we have dangerously little data — on to provide for daily needs. Water shortages in the Prairies cost $5 billion in economic damage in 2001 alone. At the same time, Canadians waste a tremendous amount of water every day.
A new National Water Policy must implement a comprehensive conservation strategy and invest in water resource research and monitoring.
Water and NAFTA
The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) defines water as a “service” and an “investment,” leaving Canadian water vulnerable to thirsty foreign investors. Once Canada allows water to be withdrawn and transported to other countries for large-scale industrial purposes, foreign investors must be given the same “national treatment” as Canadian companies.
A new National Water Policy must ensure water does not become a tradable commodity in current and future trade deals.
Take Action for a National Water Policy
It is time for the federal government to develop a National Water Policy that affirms the right to water and protects Canadian water from commodification, diversion, bulk exports and privatization.
Getting Angry? Write our "Leader" a letter:
Contact information for Stephen Harper:
E-mail: pm@pm.gc.ca Fax: 613-941-6900
Mail: Office of the Prime Minister 80 Wellington Street Ottawa, ON K1A 0A2
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