In April 2007, the Council of Canadians obtained a leaked document produced by a Washington think tank, revealing that business and government leaders in Canada, the U.S. and Mexico are actively discussing bulk water exports. They met in Calgary on April 27, 2007 to discuss the issue in a closed-door meeting as part of a larger discussion on North American integration.

Titled the “North American Future 2025 Project,” the initiative calls for a series of “closed-door meetings” on North American integration dealing with a number of highly contentious issues including bulk water exports, a joint security perimeter and a continental resource pact.

The Council of Canadians held an “open-door” meeting in Calgary on April 25, to discuss the looming threats to bulk water posed by North American integration. The meeting brought together key civil society actors and the general public to discuss and share concerns with the process and content of closed-door meetings.

Among the participants in this roundtable on bulk water exports were Maude Barlow, Ralph Pentland, CUPE Alberta, Sierra Club Canada, Sierra Legal Defence Fund, the Pembina Institute, Eau Secours and Public Interest Alberta.

The groups hope their counter-meeting will raise awareness about the impacts of North American integration on natural resources and prepare Canadians to oppose upcoming integration talks.

Resources:

• Major bottled water exporters and importers - A map from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) showing major importers and exporters of bottled water around the world - including several nations that are both.
• Bulk Water Export Bill Has Leaks, Canadian Perspectives, Autumn 2010
• Canada’s water under pressure: Five reasons to oppose bulk water exports October 2007
• Bulk Water Exports: An Interactive Timeline, September 2007
• Canoeing to Montebello: Raging Grannies take to the water to fight bulk exports, Canadian Perspectives, Autumn 2007
• Munk Centre Agrees with Council: Water Under Threat of Being Traded Away, Ottawa Citizen, September 10, 2007
• Water Division, Export and Canada-US Relations: A Brief History (PDF format), Frank Quinn, The Program on Water Issues, Munk Centre for International Studies, August 2007
• On the Table: Water, Energy and North American Integration (PDF format), Andrew Nikiforuk, The Program on Water Issues, Munk Centre for International Studies, September 2007
• On the Defensive: Harper government backtracks on bulk water exports as Council holds "open door" meeting in Calgary, Canadian Perspectives, Summer 2007
• People are talking about water': An interview with the Council of Canadians' Susan Howatt, Canadian Perspectives, Summer 2007
• [06-June-07] Council of Canadians supports vote to exclude water from NAFTA
• NEWS: House of Commons votes 134-108 against bulk water exports
• Leaked document: North American Future 2025 Project (PDF format)
  Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)
• Backgrounder: The North American Future 2025 Project (PDF format)
  The Council of Canadians’ analysis
• Read more about the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America
• Once water's a commodity, no chance to turn off the tap, Susan Howatt, Port Hope Evening Guide (ON), April 30, 2007