Canada-U.S. deal shows water should be an election issue

Despite broad public outcry, Ontario and Quebec are scheduled to sign the final agreement on stewardship of the Great Lakes along with eight U.S. states today.

“In signing this agreement, Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty and Quebec Premier Jean Charest will severely compromise Canada’s ability to protect the world’s largest body of fresh water from diversions and commercialization,” says Susan Howatt, water campaigner for the Council of Canadians.

The Council of Canadians argues that the protection of the Great Lakes should remain a bi-national responsibility regulated by the International Joint Commission (IJC), in which Canada and the U.S. are equally represented. According to Howatt, this deal transfers this responsibility to a regional body, which will be far less effective in protecting Canadian interests.

The Great Lakes Annex demonstrates the need for a new national water policy. According to Howatt, the protection of Canadian water should be an election issue. Given that Canada’s piecemeal approach to water management has left shared waters increasingly vulnerable to bulk water exports and diversions, the Council of Canadians is demanding that all candidates make a clear commitment to the establishment of a national water policy in their election platforms.

Founded in 1985, the Council of Canadians is Canada’s largest citizens’ organization, with members and chapters across the country. The organization works to protect Canadian independence by promoting progressive policies on fair trade, clean water, safe food, public health care, and other issues of social and economic concern to Canadians.

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