Enviroboys recognizes the importance of continuing an on-going discussion on Canada’s water. This blog has covered water issues extensively albeit mostly on water quantity issues and the need to explore urban water conservation policy (the focus of my thesis next year). What we need to start talking about is water security in Canada.
Water security is measured in terms of access to adequate quantities of water. Similarly to urban water conservation, water security explores how stakeholders are involved and how to best appropriate water through establishing an agreement. Water security is particularly challenging in Canada because we share the 5 Great Lakes with the U.S. Eight states and two Canadian provinces (40 million people) border these vast bodies of water and therefore many stakeholders are involved.
With water shortages and the ominous unknowns of climate change, water withdrawals from the lakes are going to have be a tad more sustainable. Both states and provinces have increased their water withdrawals for uses such as irrigation, export/diversion and industrial practices.
Having agreements such as NAFTA and the WTO pose challenges to Canada for water security. Generally, these kinds of agreements can erode Canada’s sovereignty over water and can compromise the ability of the Canadian government to manage water resources. Moreover, under NAFTA, if water enters commerce by becoming a good or product, such as an ingredient in a food, or as bottled water, it will then be covered by the Agreement which means the other party can demand the product as much as it wants.
NAFTA prevents any member country from forbidding exports, once a good is traded it cannot be withdrawn from commerce by a political decision unless that decision applies and receives consent from all parties. Worse yet, Article 11 under the WTO, states “the use of quantitative export controls, such as a ban or embargo, on any product ‘destined for the territory of any other contracting party’ is prohibited.”
Such agreements sound frightening and have several implications for water security. One sigh of relief however is the Boundary Waters Treaty. The Boundary Waters Treaty, signed in 1909, is a critical transboundary institutional arrangement that promotes water security for Canada and the U.S. It was recently amended in 2001 with major amendments including the prohibition of the bulk removal of water out of the Canadian portion of boundary water basins. Another major player involved with mediating water security for both countries is the International Joint Commission (IJC), which is a bi-national commission that prevents and resolves water disputes between Canada and U.S.
The Boundary Waters Treaty and the IJC will serve to help us in our endeavors to formulate adequate water security strategies but real disputes are imminent. The Great Lakes (about 90% of America`s water) are indispensable for both economies and important for the well-being of preserving streams, smaller lakes and wetlands that lie within the natural environment. The U.S. has seen many of its aquifers and rivers deplete over the past ten years because of the overuse and unrestrained demand and pressure that accompanied extraction.
It is time that Canada develop a Water Security agenda with a clear policy and strategy on bulk water exports. We are seriously lacking federal legislation and a plan on water security. Climate change, increasing population and agricultural development provide a great deal of conflict and uncertainty in an era where we already have too much of both. Before I provide some strategies and ideas on a water security agenda, what do you think our federal government should do?
Key message: Water security is worth talking about. Let’s start a discussion on how we can navigate some of our contemporary challenges through NAFTA, the WTO and the U.S. government.
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