University of Ottawa Forum on Water Law and Governance

Canada has 20% of the world’s freshwater reserves — this is how to protect it

Canada has 20% of the world’s freshwater reserves — this is how to protect it

The federal government has been working since 2020 to create a Canadian agency dedicated to water management across the country. Public consultations ended on March 1, and the Indigenous engagement process will continue throughout 2021. But many questions and expectations remain about the nature of the new Canada Water Agency. Water governance encompasses all the administrative, social, political, economic and legal processes put in place to manage water. In other words, it is these societal processes that determine how governmental and non-governmental groups develop measures and make decisions in the area of water management.