National Water Vision for Canada

In November 2018, Urban Water TMU partnered with Simon Fraser University’s Pacific Water Research Centre to host a water symposium at the 2018 Canadian Science Policy Conference in Ottawa.

Ten experts were gathered from politics, environmental law, academia, non-profits, and First Nations communities and organized into two panel discussions. The panels addressed the current landscape of water governance in Canada in great detail and sought to untangle the steps toward developing a framework for a true National Vision for Water in Canada.

The Vision included collaborating with First Nations communities on the first steps, enabling and updating existing legislation such as the 1970 Canada Water Act, engaging Canadians about the value of our fresh water resources, and positioning our water supply on a global level.

Simon Fraser University and Toronto Metropolitan University will continue to work together on this important issue.

Simon Fraser University is leading the International Water Decade Alliance (IWDA), a proposed international secretariat to lead actions from the United Nation’s International Water Decade Goals (2018-2028).

The IWDA was founded by Simon Fraser University and boasts a powerhouse of 20 partners including 11 major Canadian universities as well as non-governmental organizations and private sector organizations. This alliance will help Canada achieve foreign policy objectives, bring economic benefit, and advance global water security goals.

Stay tuned for next steps!