(OTTAWA) The Council of Canadians today criticized the federal government for wasting almost a year and a half trying to get the provinces to agree to its voluntary water accord, when it could have been negotiating with trading partners to protect water from the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

"The government has been clear that this process is about protecting NAFTA, not water," said Jamie Dunn, Water Campaigner for The Council of Canadians. "In fact, this accord actually allows water exports."

"Since 1993, the federal Liberals have been assuring Canadians that NAFTA governments want to protect water from the trade deal. But even they have admitted that their solution isn't binding on NAFTA," said Maude Barlow, Volunteer Chair of The Council of Canadians. "If they had listened to Canadians and used the past sixteen months to negotiate with other NAFTA countries to really protect water from NAFTA, we would be well on our way to reasserting sovereignty over Canadian water."

"Just last year, the Liberals voted for my motion in the House of Commons calling for federal legislation to ban bulk water exports. Now, spooked by NAFTA, they're ignoring that commitment and pursuing this ineffective accord instead," said NDP Trade Critic Bill Blaikie.

The Council of Canadians has been leading a national campaign to prevent the bulk export and privatization of Canadian water.

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