I am concerned about the (Alberta provincial) government’s review of the Water Act and its potential impact on ecosystems, human health, treaty obligations and future development and sustainability of our communities and the economy in Alberta.
Water is essential to all life and it is a human right. Any system of allocation must prioritize maintaining sufficient in-stream flows, ecosystem health and basic human needs above other uses, as well as recognize treaty obligations to First Nations peoples.
It is troubling that the government of Alberta is moving toward a province-wide, largely deregulated market for water allocation, and doing so with no consultation with residents or First Nation communities in Alberta.
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The protection of water resources is a shared responsibility, meaning that all levels of government, First Nations, civil society, municipalities, rural districts, businesses and individuals have a role to play in conserving this important resource.
A market system that distributes water based on the ability to pay is not appropriate for a resource as critical as water.
Moving to a market system is a fundamental abdication of the province and federal government’s obligations. It will leave decisions about future development in the province up to a small number of players with senior licences who will be able to act as water brokers, profiting by selling access to an essential resource that they received from the government for free.
Decisions about who has access to water should be made by government in partnership with First Nation communities and should focus on environmental needs and the public interest. Such a focus is not possible when left to market forces. …
It is the responsibility of the government to explore all policy options, and the experiences of other jurisdictions that have implemented them, in the process of deciding what system will work best for Alberta.
Once a market-based water allocation system is established, it will be irreversible because of obligations under international trade agreements. The government’s exclusive focus on a market-based system does not provide policy makers or people in Alberta with the full range of options before them, including ones that prioritize treaty rights and environmental and public interest objectives.
Albertans deserve to see a range of real solutions before changes are made to the Water Act.
I ask that the government:
1. Develop a provincial water allocation system that focuses on the public interest by prioritizing ecosystem health, basic human needs and treaty and First Nation rights, rather than a market-based system that allocates access to water based on the ability to pay;
2. Explore and present to First Nations and residents in Alberta a range of policy options for how Alberta’s out-of-date water allocation system could best be updated…;
3. Conduct broad and meaningful consultations … on the full range of options before making changes to the Water Act.
Wanda Laurin,
Peace River, Alta.
