“Modernization of the Canada Water Act” Seminar

In February 2025, Urban Water TMU hosted an excellent seminar on the Modernization of the Canada Water Act. Led by legal scholar Dr. Patricia Hania and Canada's foremost policy expert Mr. Mike Goffin, the seminar attracted researchers, students, and partners alike. The event was timely as the Government of Canada has just invited public consultation on this foundational piece of water legislation.

Dr. Hania shared insights from her recent work  (external link, opens in new window) on the Act’s legal foundations and cooperative federalism, while Mr. Goffin  (opens in new window) highlighted the process for legal and policy change in Canada, and modern considerations like co-developing legislation with Indigenous communities and incorporating regular freshwater reporting.

The seminar sparked thoughtful dialogue on how law, policy, and science can collectively shape Canada’s water future. And how the speed of climate change and social media and political considerations may impact the process and longevity of legal and policy frameworks.

This year Urban Water TMU has hosted several seminars on Canadian Water Policy featuring discussions on:

• the process for legal and policy change in Canada 
• The implementation of the Canada-USA Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement and subsequent provincial commitments including the Canada-Ontario Great Lakes Water Quality and Ecosystem Health Agreement

Discussions about Water Policy in Canada are timely because:

• Canada is currently realizing its 2023 commitments to Canadian freshwater through the  Freshwater Action Plan and creation of the Canada Water Agency
• In the first quarter of 2025, Canada began a public consultation with a view to modernizing the Canada Water Act 
• Mike Goffin is Canada’s foremost authority on Canadian Water Policy and on campus this year as the first SPPDI Bruce Water Policy Fellow at TMU