(OTTAWA) The Council of Canadians today called on the federal government to adopt a comprehensive, national water policy that recognizes clean water as a basic human right and bans bulk water exports. The Council was responding to news earlier today that Canada faces a national freshwater crisis.

"Yesterday, the federal government failed - again - to press provincial governments to adopt a futile federal-provincial water accord. Today noted water ecologist David Schindler forecast a national water crisis, blaming government cutbacks and in-fighting between federal and provincial governments. The combined threats of dwindling fresh water supplies, increased trade attacks and ongoing attempts to privatize Canadian water leave the federal government no more room to avoid responsibility," said Maude Barlow, Volunteer Chair of The Council of Canadians. "Canadians need a comprehensive national water policy that recognizes clean fresh water as a fundamental human right and includes an explicit ban on bulk water exports. Nothing less will do."

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

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