Objective 3: Transboundary Water Security
OBJECTIVE: To foster Canadian capacity for governance of transboundary waters.
The Foundation's support within this objective will focus on Canadian capacity to influence decisions that affect our ability to manage and protect waters that flow across provincial/territorial and international boundaries. It will also focus on local capacity to engage in and promote transboundary water management, including capacity to network with others and influence decision-makers. The capacity to respond to current and emerging “hotspots” will be a priority.
We intend to strengthen Canada’s role in setting the “ideas agenda” for managing transboundary waters in a way that supports sound public policy and strong institutions, and protects our water resources now and in the future.
Our intention is to address both international and interprovincial (domestic) boundaries where there is some potential for conflict and/or opportunity for improved water governance. Our hope is to build upon successful models where collaboration and public input have informed strategic outcomes, such as in the case of the recent Great Lakes Charter Annex Agreement protections against diversions. We seek to promote and support existing institutions and arrangements (like the International Joint Commission, Prairie Provinces Water Board, Columbia Basin Treaty for example) by strengthening the engagement of civil society with them. We note that the IJC in particular has been moving toward a more integrated, collaborative watershed management approach. We believe that this direction is appropriate, and hope to support the ability of other non-government and civil society organizations to engage in this manner with such institutions.
"Water security is a function of reliable access to adequate quantities
of water, of acceptable quality, for human and environmental uses. In
Canada, water users and managers at all levels, from individuals to
government and non-government agencies, face water security challenges
on a number of fronts, including growing demands for water; increasing
variability in supplies; threats to water quality from various sources,
including land uses and activities; a rapidly evolving institutional
environment; and an expectation that local agencies will have greater
responsibilities for water management."
Rob de Loe, Guelph Water Management Group, describing the current 'Water
Security in Canada' project.
The following Highlights provide examples of the work being funded by the Foundation related to the governance and management of transboundary water resources:
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Planning for Extremes: Addressing Climate Change Impact on Soil and Water Conservation
The Soil and Water Conservation Society, with support from the Foundation recently released a report, "Planning for Extremes: Adapting to impacts on soil and water from higher intensity rains with climate change in the Great Lakes basin" (2006). -
Nature Quebec / UQCN
St-Lawrence / Great Lakes transboundary water issues from a Quebec perspective. -
Withdrawals and Diversions from the Great Lakes
Beginning implementation of the Great Lakes Annex Agreements. -
The Program on Water Issues at the University of Toronto
Bringing focus to critical water issues in Canada. -
Prairie Citizens' Water Directive
Groups from across the Prairies are organizing a grassroots call to action for improved watershed management. Local public meetings will be held in September and October. -
Transboundary water governance work at the University of British Columbia
The Water Governance Program of University of British Columbia's Department of Geography will continue its work on transboundary governance and local water management.