Current issues Flashcards
Shipping
Issue Concerns Carbon emissions – use lowest quality bunker fuel Acoustics, wildlife collisions, oil and wastes Invasive species Points of Conflict Most is in open ocean Cost-efficiency Relevant Policies Future Direction
Federal Water control
Inter-provincial and international waters
Water on Federal Crown land
Eg. National Parks
First Nations and Indigenous Territories
Fishery and fish habitat in all Canadian waters
Navigable waters
Federal intervention in other areas is possible in the interest of “good governance”
Natural Resource Agencies (5NR):
Environment and Climate Change (environment and trans-boundary flow)
Health (public health)
Natural Resources (ground water)
Agriculture and Agri-Food (protection & rural water)
Fisheries and Oceans (inland and ocean fisheries)
Environment Canada
(formed in 1971) conducts water research to protect and enhance water resources, monitors water quality in the natural environment, monitors trans-boundary flows, and has some legal regulatory responsibilities designed to protect and safeguard natural water supplies. Environment Canada and provincial ministers of the environment set the Guidelines for Canadian Water Quality (Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment, or CCME).
Health Canada
Canada assumes responsibilities for safeguarding human health, and is instrumental in setting the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality in dialogue with the provincial and territorial governments through the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Subcommittee on Drinking Water. The Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) is responsible to receive, review and regulate licensed, approved pesticides in Canada; the PMRA resides under Health Canada’s jurisdiction.
Natural Resources Canada
retains responsibilities for natural resources (minerals, metals, energy, forests, earth sciences), conducts water research with forestry, mining and energy sectors, and conducts groundwater research and mapping across Canada.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
is responsible for freshwater (inland) and saltwater (oceans) fisheries, complete with regulatory responsibilities under the Fisheries Act.
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
is an economic department that works with the Agri-Food sector to promote a competitive Canadian agricultural sector and agricultural practices to protect the environment. The sector relies on natural resources for agricultural production. This department has some responsibilities for water development, and water use by the agri-food sector; it is also conducts research, demonstration and adoption of agricultural best management practices to safeguard water supplies from potential agricultural contaminants such as pesticides. To rehabilitate drought and soil drifting areas, the federal government enacted the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Act (enacted in 1935, RS1985) which, in part, mandated the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration “to develop and promote within those areas systems of farm practice, tree culture, water supply, land utilization and land settlement that will afford greater economic security” to the Provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta”
Many other federal agencies, including:
For example, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada has shared responsibilities with First Nations Band Councils for drinking water and wastewater on First Nations reserve communities. Transport Canada is responsible for the Navigable Waters Act. Foreign Affairs is concerned with water issues related to bulk transport and export of water beyond Canada. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency regulates bottled water. Parks Canada is responsible for ecological integrity of national parks, and water and wastewater systems in national parks.
Provinces have constitutional authority over natural resources including water:
Authorization of water use development Water rights allocation Rights are not privately held Tradeable only in Alberta Flow regulation Thermal and hydroelectric power development Development regulation Pollution control Water supply
Federal Water Policy (1987)
“The overall objective of the federal water policy is to encourage the use of freshwater in an efficient and equitable manner consistent with the social, economic and environmental needs of present and future generations.”
Goals (1987 Federal Water Policy)
To protect and enhance the quality of the water resource.
To promote the wise and efficient management and use of water.
5 Strategies to achieve these goals:
Water pricing
Science leadership
Integrated planning
Legislation
Public Awareness
CCME(Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment)
“Water Quality Index” summarizes water quality data into a single number
based on a formula developed by the British Columbia Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks and modified by Alberta Environment.
