44e législature223Réponse du gouvernement déposée18 mars 2024441-02058441-02058 (Environnement)ElizabethMaySaanich—Gulf IslandsParti vertBC1 février 202418 mars 20248 février 2023Pétition à la Chambre des communes réunie en Parlement Attendu que :
  • les pratiques irresponsables de l’industrie et des multinationales ont mené à la destruction et à la dévalorisation d’une bonne partie des cours d’eau et des bassins hydrographiques du Canada;
  • les lois actuelles ne protègent pas suffisamment les cours d’eau et les bassins hydrographiques du Canada contre ces pratiques irresponsables;
  • en protégeant les cours d’eau et les bassins hydrographiques, on protège aussi les forêts, les pêches, les terres et l’air du Canada.
Nous, soussignés, citoyens et résidents du Canada, demandons à la Chambre des communes assemblée en Parlement de :
  • mettre à jour la législation canadienne sur les cours et plans d’eau afin qu’aucun secteur d’activité ou entreprise ne passe avant la santé des cours d’eau, des bassins hydrographiques et, par extension, des habitants, des espèces animales et végétales et des terres du Canada;
  • veiller à ce que cette mise à jour se fasse sous la direction de professionnels et de spécialistes de la conservation des eaux.
Response by the Minister of Environment and Climate ChangeSigned by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): The Honourable STEVEN GUILBEAULTA clean and safe freshwater supply is essential to the well-being of Canadians, the health and sustainability of the environment, and the economy. Hence, the Government of Canada has committed to:
  • establishing a federal Canada Water Agency to work with the provinces, territories, Indigenous communities, and other stakeholders to find the best ways to keep Canada’s water safe, clean, and well-managed;
  • implementing a strengthened Freshwater Action Plan, including a historic investment to provide funding to support monitoring, assessment, and restoration work in the Great Lakes, Lake Winnipeg, Lake of the Woods, St. Lawrence River, Fraser River, Saint John River, Mackenzie River, and Lake Simcoe;
  • investing in the Experimental Lakes Area in northern Ontario to support international freshwater science and research; and
  • following the establishment of a Canada Water Agency, advancing the modernization of the Canada Water Act to reflect Canada’s freshwater reality including climate change and Indigenous rights.
To advance these commitments, Budget 2023 allocated:
  • $650 million over ten years, starting in 2023-24, to support monitoring, assessment, and restoration work in the Great Lakes, Lake Winnipeg, Lake of the Woods, St. Lawrence River, Fraser River, Saint John River, Mackenzie River, and Lake Simcoe.
  • Opportunities are currently open for eligible applicants to apply for funding under five Freshwater Ecosystem Initiatives, including Great Lakes, Lake of the Woods, and Lake Winnipeg Basin (this call for applications closes on February 15, 2024) and Lake Simcoe and the Wolastoq/Saint John River (this call for applications closes on March 22, 2024).
  • The EcoAction Community Funding Program, which supports freshwater projects across Canada, is also now accepting applications until March 22, 2024.
  • Budget 2023 also allocated:
    • $22.6 million over three years, starting in 2023-24, to support better coordination of efforts to protect freshwater across Canada.
    • $85.1 million over five years, starting in 2023-24, with $0.4 million in remaining amortization and $21 million ongoing thereafter to support the creation of the Canada Water Agency, which will be headquartered in Winnipeg.
Budget 2022 provided:
  • $25.0 million over five years, starting in 2022-2023, for the Experimental Lakes Area in northern Ontario to support international freshwater science and research.
On June 12, 2023, the government created the Canada Water Agency as a branch within Environment and Climate Change Canada. The Agency is the federal focal point for fresh water working in partnership with Indigenous Peoples, provinces, territories, and stakeholders to strengthen collaboration on fresh water.On November 30, 2023, the government introduced legislation that will fully establish the Canada Water Agency as a standalone entity. To learn more about the Canada Water Agency, please consult the Agency website at https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/water-overview/canada-water-agency.html.Another way that the Government of Canada protects and conserves Canada’s water resources is by administering laws that control pollution such as the Fisheries Act.Environment and Climate Change Canada is the lead department responsible for the administration and enforcement of the Fisheries Act pollution prevention provisions (except for their application to aquaculture and the control and eradication of aquatic invasive species and aquatic pests, which are under the responsibility of the Department of Fisheries and Ocean). Subsection 36(3) prohibits the deposit of any deleterious substances in water frequented by fish or to any place where it may enter water frequented by fish, unless authorized by federal regulations. Deleterious substances include any substance that, if added to water, would degrade, alter or form part of a process of degradation or alteration of the quality of water so that it is rendered deleterious to fish or fish habitat or to the use of fish by humans. Any regulations developed under section 36 set strict requirements on deposits to water. These regulations can impose conditions such as limits on the maximum quantities of deleterious substances released into water, and can include environmental effects monitoring and other reporting requirements for facilities. Modern Fisheries Act regulations include the Metal and Diamond Mining Effluent Regulations, the Pulp and Paper Effluent Regulations, and the Wastewater Systems Effluent Regulations.Environment and Climate Change Canada is developing proposed regulations to address deposits to water from coal mining and is investigating risk management approaches for tailings ponds from oil sands operations.To learn more about these proposed regulations, as well as upcoming improvements to existing regulations, please consult the Fisheries Act Forward Regulatory Plan 2023-2025 available at: https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/corporate/transparency/acts-regulations/forward-regulatory-plan/2023-2025/fisheries-act.html.Environment and Climate Change Canada enforces the subsection 36(3) prohibition, as well as regulations under the Fisheries Act according to the Compliance and Enforcement Policy for Habitat Protection and Pollution Prevention Provisions of the Fisheries Act: www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/environmental-enforcement/publications/compliance-enforcement-policy-fisheries-act.html 
Bassins hydrographiquesProtection de l'environnementVoies navigables intérieures
44e législature223Réponse du gouvernement déposée9 novembre 2023441-01687441-01687 (Environnement)ElizabethMaySaanich—Gulf IslandsParti vertBC28 septembre 20239 novembre 20238 février 2023Pétition à la Chambre des communes réunie en Parlement Attendu que :
  • les pratiques irresponsables de l’industrie et des multinationales ont mené à la destruction et à la dévalorisation d’une bonne partie des cours d’eau et des bassins hydrographiques du Canada;
  • les lois actuelles ne protègent pas suffisamment les cours d’eau et les bassins hydrographiques du Canada contre ces pratiques irresponsables;
  • en protégeant les cours d’eau et les bassins hydrographiques, on protège aussi les forêts, les pêches, les terres et l’air du Canada.
Nous, soussignés, citoyens et résidents du Canada, demandons à la Chambre des communes assemblée en Parlement de :
  • mettre à jour la législation canadienne sur les cours et plans d’eau afin qu’aucun secteur d’activité ou entreprise ne passe avant la santé des cours d’eau, des bassins hydrographiques et, par extension, des habitants, des espèces animales et végétales et des terres du Canada;
  • veiller à ce que cette mise à jour se fasse sous la direction de professionnels et de spécialistes de la conservation des eaux.
Response by the Minister of Environment and Climate ChangeSigned by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): The Honourable STEVEN GUILBEAULTA clean and safe freshwater supply is essential to the well-being of Canadians, the health and sustainability of the environment, and the economy. Hence, the Government of Canada has committed to:
  • establishing a federal Canada Water Agency to work with the provinces, territories, Indigenous communities, and other stakeholders to find the best ways to keep Canada’s water safe, clean, and well-managed;
  • implementing a strengthened Freshwater Action Plan, including a historic investment to provide funding to support monitoring, assessment, and restoration work in the Great Lakes, Lake Winnipeg, Lake of the Woods, St. Lawrence River, Fraser River, Saint John River, Mackenzie River, and Lake Simcoe;
  • investing in the Experimental Lakes Area in northern Ontario to support international freshwater science and research; and
  • following the establishment of a Canada Water Agency, advancing the modernization of the Canada Water Act to reflect Canada’s freshwater reality including climate change and Indigenous rights.
To advance these commitments, Budget 2023 proposed to provide:
  • $650 million over ten years, starting in 2023-24, to support monitoring, assessment, and restoration work in the Great Lakes, Lake Winnipeg, Lake of the Woods, St. Lawrence River, Fraser River, Saint John River, Mackenzie River, and Lake Simcoe.
  • $22.6 million over three years, starting in 2023-24, to support better coordination of efforts to protect freshwater across Canada.
  • $85.1 million over five years, starting in 2023-24, with $0.4 million in remaining amortization and $21 million ongoing thereafter to support the creation of the Canada Water Agency, which will be headquartered in Winnipeg.
Budget 2022 provided:
  • $25.0 million over five years, starting in 2022-2023, for the Experimental Lakes Area in northern Ontario to support international freshwater science and research.
On June 12, 2023, the government created the Canada Water Agency as a branch within Environment and Climate Change Canada. The Agency is the federal focal point for fresh water working in partnership with Indigenous peoples, provinces, territories, and stakeholders to strengthen collaboration on fresh water.Budget 2023 indicated that legislation will be introduced that will fully establish the Canada Water Agency as a standalone entity.To learn more about the Canada Water Agency, please consult the Agency website at https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/water-overview/canada-water-agency.htmlAnother way that the Government of Canada protects and conserves Canada’s water resources is by administering laws that control pollution such as the Fisheries Act.Environment and Climate Change Canada is the lead department responsible for the administration and enforcement of the Fisheries Act pollution prevention provisions (except for their application to aquaculture and the control and eradication of aquatic invasive species and aquatic pests, which are under the responsibility of the Department of Fisheries and Ocean). Subsection 36(3) prohibits the deposit of any deleterious substances in water frequented by fish or to any place where it may enter water frequented by fish, unless authorized by federal regulations. Deleterious substances include any substance that, if added to water, would degrade, alter or form part of a process of degradation or alteration of the quality of water so that it is rendered deleterious to fish or fish habitat or to the use of fish by humans. Any regulations developed under section 36 set strict requirements on deposits to water. These regulations can impose conditions such as limits on the maximum quantities of deleterious substances released into water, and can include environmental effects monitoring and other reporting requirements for facilities. Modern Fisheries Act regulations include the Metal and Diamond Mining Effluent Regulations, the Pulp and Paper Effluent Regulations, and the Wastewater Systems Effluent Regulations.Environment and Climate Change Canada is developing proposed regulations to address deposits to water from coal mining and is investigating risk management approaches for tailings ponds from oil sands operations.To learn more about these proposed regulations, as well as upcoming improvements to existing regulations, please consult the Fisheries Act Forward Regulatory Plan 2023-2025 available at: https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/corporate/transparency/acts-regulations/forward-regulatory-plan/2023-2025/fisheries-act.html.Environment and Climate Change Canada enforces the subsection 36(3) prohibition, as well as regulations under the Fisheries Act according to the Compliance and Enforcement Policy for Habitat Protection and Pollution Prevention Provisions of the Fisheries Act: www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/environmental-enforcement/publications/compliance-enforcement-policy-fisheries-act.html
Bassins hydrographiquesProtection de l'environnementVoies navigables intérieures
44e législature223Réponse du gouvernement déposée29 mars 2023441-01138441-01138 (Environnement)ElizabethMaySaanich—Gulf IslandsParti vertBC13 février 202329 mars 202322 novembre 2022Pétition à la Chambre des communes réunie en Parlement Attendu que :
  • les pratiques irresponsables de l’industrie et des multinationales ont mené à la destruction et à la dévalorisation d’une bonne partie des cours d’eau et des bassins hydrographiques du Canada;
  • les lois actuelles ne protègent pas suffisamment les cours d’eau et les bassins hydrographiques du Canada contre ces pratiques irresponsables;
  • en protégeant les cours d’eau et les bassins hydrographiques, on protège aussi les forêts, les pêches, les terres et l’air du Canada.
Nous, soussignés, citoyens et résidents du Canada, demandons à la Chambre des communes assemblée en Parlement de :
  • mettre à jour la législation canadienne sur les cours et plans d’eau afin qu’aucun secteur d’activité ou entreprise ne passe avant la santé des cours d’eau, des bassins hydrographiques et, par extension, des habitants, des espèces animales et végétales et des terres du Canada;
  • veiller à ce que cette mise à jour se fasse sous la direction de professionnels et de spécialistes de la conservation des eaux.
Response by the Minister of Environment and Climate ChangeSigned by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): The Honourable STEVEN GUILBEAULTA clean and safe freshwater supply is essential to the well-being of Canadians, the health and sustainability of the environment, and the economy. Hence, the Government of Canada has committed to:
  • establishing a federal Canada Water Agency to work with the provinces, territories, Indigenous communities, and other stakeholders to find the best ways to keep Canada’s water safe, clean, and well-managed;
  • implementing a strengthened Freshwater Action Plan, including a historic investment to provide funding to protect and restore large lakes and river systems starting with the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River System, Lake Simcoe, the Lake Winnipeg Basin, the Fraser River Basin and the Mackenzie River Basin;
  • investing in the Experimental Lakes Area in northern Ontario to support international freshwater science and research; and
  • following the establishment of a Canada Water Agency, advancing the modernization of the Canada Water Act to reflect Canada’s freshwater reality including climate change and Indigenous rights.
To advance these commitments, Budget 2022 proposed to provide $88.1 million over 5 years in new funding for Environment and Climate Change Canada, which included:
  • $43.5 million over five years, starting in 2022-23, and $8.7 million ongoing to create the new Canada Water Agency.
  • $19.6 million in 2022-2023 to sustain the Freshwater Action Plan. This funding will support clean-up efforts in the Great Lakes, the St. Lawrence River, Lake Winnipeg, Lake of the Woods, the Fraser River, the Saint John River, the Mackenzie River, and Lake Simcoe. The future of this initiative will be communicated at a later date.
  • $25.0 million over five years, starting in 2022-2023, for the Experimental Lakes Area in northern Ontario to support international freshwater science and research.
Another way that the Government of Canada protects and conserves Canada’s water resources is by administering laws that control pollution such as the Fisheries Act.Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) is the lead department responsible for the administration and enforcement of the Fisheries Act pollution prevention provisions (except for their application to aquaculture and the control and eradication of aquatic invasive species and aquatic pests, which are under the responsibility of the Department of Fisheries and Ocean). Subsection 36(3) prohibits the deposit of any deleterious substances in water frequented by fish or to any place where it may enter water frequented by fish, unless authorized by federal regulations. Deleterious substances include any substance that, if added to water, would degrade, alter or form part of a process of degradation or alteration of the quality of water so that it is rendered deleterious to fish or fish habitat or to the use of fish by humans. Any regulations developed under section 36 set strict requirements on deposits to water. These regulations can impose conditions such as limits on the maximum quantities of deleterious substances released into water, and can include environmental effects monitoring and other reporting requirements for facilities. Modern Fisheries Act regulations include the Metal and Diamond Mining Effluent Regulations, the Pulp and Paper Effluent Regulations, and the Wastewater Systems Effluent Regulations.Environment and Climate Change Canada is developing proposed regulations to address deposits to water from coal mining and is investigating risk management approaches for tailings ponds from oil sands operations.To learn more about these proposed regulations, as well as upcoming improvements to existing regulations, please consult the Fisheries Act Forward Regulatory Plan 2022-2024 available at https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/corporate/transparency/acts-regulations/forward-regulatory-plan/2022-2024/fisheries-act.html.Environment and Climate Change Canada enforces the subsection 36(3) prohibition, as well as regulations under the Fisheries Act according to the Compliance and Enforcement Policy for Habitat Protection and Pollution Prevention Provisions of the Fisheries Act: www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/environmental-enforcement/publications/compliance-enforcement-policy-fisheries-act.html.
Bassins hydrographiquesProtection de l'environnementVoies navigables intérieures
44e législature223Réponse du gouvernement déposée17 juin 2022441-00460441-00460 (Environnement)ElizabethMaySaanich—Gulf IslandsParti vertBC13 mai 202217 juin 202210 mai 2022PÉTITION À LA CHAMBRE DES COMMUNES RÉUNIE EN PARLEMENTAttendu que :
  • Les pratiques irresponsables de l’industrie et des multinationales ont détruit la plupart des bassins hydrographiques et des voies navigables du Canada et réduit leur importance légitime;
  • Les lois actuelles ne protègent pas suffisamment les bassins hydrographiques et les voies navigables du Canada contre ces pratiques irresponsables;
  • La protection des bassins hydrographiques et des voies navigables assure du même souffle la protection des forêts, de l’air, des pêches et des terres du Canada.
Nous soussignés, citoyens et résidents du Canada, prions la Chambre des communes réunie en Parlement :
  • d’actualiser les lois du Canada en la matière pour veiller à ce qu’aucune industrie ni multinationale n’ait préséance sur la santé des bassins hydrographiques et des voies navigables ni sur la santé de la population, des espèces et des terres du Canada;
  • de veiller à ce que les lois sur les bassins hydrographiques et les voies navigables du Canada soient revues sous la gouverne de professionnels et de spécialistes de la conservation de l’eau.
Response by the Minister of Environment and Climate ChangeSigned by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): The Honourable STEVEN GUILBEAULTThe Government of Canada is committed to safeguarding our country’s freshwater resources for generations to come. No resource is more important to Canadians than fresh, clean water--our lives and livelihoods depend on it.Freshwater management in Canada is a shared responsibility between federal, provincial, territorial and Indigenous governments. The Government of Canada works cooperatively with other orders of government to leverage partnerships and incredible expertise that exists within Canada to safeguard freshwater resources. Below are some examples of collaborations:
  • Federal-provincial-territorial collaboration on water: The Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) is the intergovernmental forum in Canada for discussion and joint action on environmental issues of national concern. It is composed of environment ministers from the federal, provincial and territorial governments. CCME has established a Water Management Committee that works on delivering water activities that are of interest nationally. For example, the CCME develops Canadian Environmental Quality Guidelines to provide a scientific basis for making effective decisions regarding the protection of freshwater resources in Canada.
  • Protecting major watersheds: The Government of Canada has decades of experience undertaking watershed protection initiatives in collaboration with provincial governments, Indigenous communities and stakeholders. Canada is committed to working and collaborating with others to restore and protect our freshwater resources through arrangements such as the Canada-United States Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, the Canada-Ontario Agreement on Great Lakes Water Quality and Ecosystem Health, the Canada-Quebec Agreement on the St. Lawrence, and the Canada-Manitoba Memorandum of Understanding Respecting Lake Winnipeg and the Lake Winnipeg Basin. In 2017, the Government of Canada invested $70.5 million to protect the Great Lakes and Lake Winnipeg Basin. Of this investment, $44.84 million over five years was provided to the Great Lakes Protection Initiative in order to take action to address the most significant environmental challenges affecting Great Lakes water quality and ecosystem health. This funding supports efforts to address priorities of reducing phosphorus loading to Lake Erie, assessing and enhancing the resilience of Great Lakes coastal wetlands, evaluating and identifying at-risk nearshore waters, reducing releases of harmful chemicals, and increasing public engagement through citizen science. A total of $25.7 million of the Budget 2017 investment was also provided to the Lake Winnipeg basin program. The Government has invested in a wide range of projects that focus on actions to reduce excessive nutrients like phosphorus from entering the lake, as well as projects that enhance collaboration throughout the basin, and that support Indigenous engagement on freshwater issues.
  • Supporting domestic and international water boards: Domestic inter-jurisdictional water boards have been established to focus on specific water issues that have implications for more than one province or territory. These boards include the Ottawa River Regulation Planning Board, Prairie Provinces Water Board, Mackenzie River Basin Board, and the Lake of the Woods Control Board. In addition, the Government of Canada supports 17 Canadian-United States water boards and committees through the International Joint Commission (IJC) by providing science and expert advice. The IJC prevents and resolves disputes between the United States and Canada regarding lake and river systems along the border (under the 1909 Boundary Water treaty).
  • Monitoring water quantity and quality. Environment and Climate Change Canada’s (ECCC) National Hydrological Service (NHS) is the primary operator for the hydrometric monitoring networks which is collaboratively managed and cost-shared with provinces and territories (approximately 2800 active monitoring stations). The NHS is also responsible for water management of international and domestic transboundary water in partnership with the IJC and the provinces and territories. In 2019, the Government of Canada invested $89.7 million to modernize the NHS to support earlier and more accurate information about freshwater resources. This investment will help to ensure the sustainability of the Government’s water-monitoring networks, which in turn will help prepare Canadians for water-related disasters like flooding and droughts. In addition, ECCC’s Water Quality Monitoring and Surveillance Program activities are accomplished in collaboration with provincial and territorial governments. The objectives of the Program are to disseminate timely information on water quality to the public, government agencies, industry and the scientific community. ECCC also oversees the Canadian Environmental Sustainability Indicators Program (CESI). The CESI Program provides freshwater data from federal, provincial and territorial governments to track Canada’s performance on key environmental sustainability issues including pressures on freshwater regional ecosystems, water quality and availability in Canadian rivers.
Canada’s federal legislative framework for freshwater management consists of several legislative instruments that provide the federal government with powers to address freshwater issues across the country, both directly and indirectly. As well, the provinces and territories have significant jurisdiction over water resources within their boundaries and play a core role regarding water management.Federal legislation for freshwater management addresses the key areas of federal jurisdiction. The management of cross-boundary water flows ensures water quantity issues are addressed, while pollution prevention provisions protect water quality in fish-bearing and migratory bird habitats. As well, in this area of shared jurisdiction, the federal legislative framework allows for cooperative collaboration on fresh water with provincial and territorial governments, Indigenous people and international partners.Pollution prevention is a fundamental element of the federal freshwater legislative framework. The Fisheries Act includes provisions prohibiting pollution that could be harmful to fish and other aquatic life. Regulations under the Fisheries Act imposes conditions, including effluent limits, on the release of deleterious substances and effluent into water and can include environmental effects monitoring requirements for facilities. Similarly, The Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994, protects against pollution on land or in water that could be harmful to migratory birds. The Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, is an important federal law aimed at preventing pollution and protecting the environment and human health. It authorizes action on a wide range of environmental and health risks that directly impact water resources including, for example, water pollution, toxic substances, and waste.In the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change`s mandate letter from the Prime Minister, water features prominently. The Minister has been asked, with the support of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, to establish a Canada Water Agency (CWA) and implement a strengthened Freshwater Action Plan, including a historic investment to provide funding to protect and restore large lakes and river systems starting with the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River System, Lake Simcoe, the Lake Winnipeg Basin, the Fraser River Basin and the Mackenzie River Basin. Following the establishment of the Agency, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change has also been asked to advance the modernization of the Canada Water Act to reflect Canada’s freshwater reality, including climate change and Indigenous rights.The federal government is currently developing options for the proposed Canada Water Agency. The identification of freshwater priorities and creation of the Agency has been the subject of engagement with Indigenous peoples, provincial and territorial governments, stakeholders, and the public. The Government of Canada released the Discussion Paper, Towards the Creation of a Canada Water Agency in December 2020 formally launching a public engagement process to seek feedback on the establishment of a new CWA. In January and February 2021, the federal government held a National Forum, six Regional Forums and expert workshops on freshwater science and data engaging over 2500 Canadians. Priorities highlighted in consultations included: climate adaptation, enhanced coordination/improved governance of federal freshwater activities, science, data, and advancing reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. Dedicated engagement and relationship building with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis on freshwater priorities and development of the CWA has begun and will be ongoing.   
Bassins hydrographiquesProtection de l'environnementVoies navigables intérieures
44e législature223Réponse du gouvernement déposée31 janvier 2022441-00045441-00045 (Environnement)ElizabethMaySaanich—Gulf IslandsParti vertBC9 décembre 202131 janvier 202227 juillet 2021PÉTITION À LA CHAMBRE DES COMMUNES RÉUNIE EN PARLEMENTAttendu que :
  • Les pratiques irresponsables de l’industrie et des multinationales ont détruit la plupart des bassins hydrographiques et des voies navigables du Canada et réduit leur importance légitime;
  • Les lois actuelles ne protègent pas suffisamment les bassins hydrographiques et les voies navigables du Canada contre ces pratiques irresponsables;
  • La protection des bassins hydrographiques et des voies navigables assure du même souffle la protection des forêts, de l’air, des pêches et des terres du Canada.
Nous soussignés, citoyens et résidents du Canada, prions la Chambre des communes réunie en Parlement :
  • d’actualiser les lois du Canada en la matière pour veiller à ce qu’aucune industrie ni multinationale n’ait préséance sur la santé des bassins hydrographiques et des voies navigables ni sur la santé de la population, des espèces et des terres du Canada;
  • de veiller à ce que les lois sur les bassins hydrographiques et les voies navigables du Canada soient revues sous la gouverne de professionnels et de spécialistes de la conservation de l’eau.
Response by the Minister of Environment and Climate ChangeSigned by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): The Honourable STEVEN GUILBEAULTThe Government of Canada is committed to safeguarding our country’s freshwater resources for generations to come. No resource is more important to Canadians than fresh, clean water--our lives and livelihoods depend on it.Freshwater management in Canada is a shared responsibility between federal, provincial, territorial and Indigenous governments. The Government of Canada works cooperatively with other orders of government to leverage partnerships and incredible expertise that exists within Canada to safeguard freshwater resources. Below are some examples of collaborations:
  • Federal-provincial-territorial collaboration on water: The Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) is the intergovernmental forum in Canada for discussion and joint action on environmental issues of national concern. It is composed of environment ministers from the federal, provincial and territorial governments. CCME has established a Water Management Committee that works on delivering water activities that are of interest nationally. For example, the CCME develops Canadian Environmental Quality Guidelines to provide a scientific basis for making effective decisions regarding the protection of freshwater resources in Canada.
  • Protecting major watersheds: The Government of Canada has decades of experience undertaking watershed protection initiatives in collaboration with provincial governments, Indigenous communities and stakeholders. Canada is committed to working and collaborating with others to restore and protect our freshwater resources through arrangements such as the Canada-United States Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, the Canada-Ontario Agreement on Great Lakes Water Quality and Ecosystem Health, the Canada-Quebec Agreement on the St. Lawrence, and the Canada-Manitoba Memorandum of Understanding Respecting Lake Winnipeg and the Lake Winnipeg Basin. In 2017, the Government of Canada invested $70.5 million to protect the Great Lakes and Lake Winnipeg Basin. Of this investment, $44.84 million over five years was provided to the Great Lakes Protection Initiative in order to take action to address the most significant environmental challenges affecting Great Lakes water quality and ecosystem health. This funding supports efforts to address priorities of reducing phosphorus loading to Lake Erie, assessing and enhancing the resilience of Great Lakes coastal wetlands, evaluating and identifying at-risk nearshore waters, reducing releases of harmful chemicals, and increasing public engagement through citizen science. A total of $25.7 million of the Budget 2017 investment was also provided to the Lake Winnipeg basin program. The Government has invested in a wide range of projects that focus on actions to reduce excessive nutrients like phosphorus from entering the lake, as well as projects that enhance collaboration throughout the basin, and that support Indigenous engagement on freshwater issues.
  • Supporting domestic and international water boards: Domestic inter-jurisdictional water boards have been established to focus on specific water issues that have implications for more than one province or territory. These boards include the Ottawa River Regulation Planning Board, Prairie Provinces Water Board, Mackenzie River Basin Board, and the Lake of the Woods Control Board. In addition, the Government of Canada supports 17 Canadian-United States water boards and committees through the International Joint Commission (IJC) by providing science and expert advice. The IJC prevents and resolves disputes between the United States and Canada regarding lake and river systems along the border (under the 1909 Boundary Water treaty).
  • Monitoring water quantity and quality. Environment and Climate Change Canada’s (ECCC) National Hydrological Service (NHS) is the primary operator for the hydrometric monitoring networks which is collaboratively managed and cost-shared with provinces and territories (approximately 2800 active monitoring stations). The NHS is also responsible for water management of international and domestic transboundary water in partnership with the IJC and the provinces and territories. In 2019, the Government of Canada invested $89.7 million to modernize the NHS to support earlier and more accurate information about freshwater resources. This investment will help to ensure the sustainability of the Government’s water-monitoring networks, which in turn will help prepare Canadians for water-related disasters like flooding and droughts. In addition, ECCC’s Water Quality Monitoring and Surveillance Program activities are accomplished in collaboration with provincial and territorial governments. The objectives of the Program are to disseminate timely information on water quality to the public, government agencies, industry and the scientific community. ECCC also oversees the Canadian Environmental Sustainability Indicators Program (CESI). The CESI Program provides freshwater data from federal, provincial and territorial governments to track Canada’s performance on key environmental sustainability issues including pressures on freshwater regional ecosystems, water quality and availability in Canadian rivers.
Canada’s federal legislative framework for freshwater management consists of several legislative instruments that provide the federal government with powers to address freshwater issues across the country, both directly and indirectly. As well, the provinces and territories have significant jurisdiction over water resources within their boundaries and play a core role regarding water management.Federal legislation for freshwater management addresses the key areas of federal jurisdiction. The management of cross-boundary water flows ensures water quantity issues are addressed, while pollution prevention provisions protect water quality in fish-bearing and migratory bird habitats. As well, in this area of shared jurisdiction, the federal legislative framework allows for cooperative collaboration on fresh water with provincial and territorial governments, Indigenous people and international partners.Pollution prevention is a fundamental element of the federal freshwater legislative framework. The Fisheries Act includes provisions prohibiting pollution that could be harmful to fish and other aquatic life. Regulations under the Fisheries Act imposes conditions, including effluent limits, on the release of deleterious substances and effluent into water and can include environmental effects monitoring requirements for facilities. Similarly, The Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994, protects against pollution on land or in water that could be harmful to migratory birds. The Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, is an important federal law aimed at preventing pollution and protecting the environment and human health. It authorizes action on a wide range of environmental and health risks that directly impact water resources including, for example, water pollution, toxic substances, and waste.In the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change`s mandate letter from the Prime Minister, water features prominently. The Minister has been asked, with the support of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, to establish a Canada Water Agency (CWA) and implement a strengthened Freshwater Action Plan, including a historic investment to provide funding to protect and restore large lakes and river systems starting with the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River System, Lake Simcoe, the Lake Winnipeg Basin, the Fraser River Basin and the Mackenzie River Basin. Following the establishment of the Agency, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change has also been asked to advance the modernization of the Canada Water Act to reflect Canada’s freshwater reality, including climate change and Indigenous rights.The federal government is currently developing options for the proposed Canada Water Agency. The identification of freshwater priorities and creation of the Agency has been the subject of engagement with Indigenous peoples, provincial and territorial governments, stakeholders, and the public. The Government of Canada released the Discussion Paper, Towards the Creation of a Canada Water Agency in December 2020 formally launching a public engagement process to seek feedback on the establishment of a new CWA. In January and February 2021, the federal government held a National Forum, six Regional Forums and expert workshops on freshwater science and data engaging over 2500 Canadians. Priorities highlighted in consultations included: climate adaptation, enhanced coordination/improved governance of federal freshwater activities, science, data, and advancing reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. Dedicated engagement and relationship building with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis on freshwater priorities and development of the CWA has begun and will be ongoing.  
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