The 21-page draft report, A Federal Perspective on Water Quantity Issues, by Environment Canada from December 2007, indicates water shortages could threaten Canada's economy and security over freshwater resources.

The report identifies unsustainable industrial consumption of water in the energy and agricultural sectors. It forecasts conflicts over the allocation of water between provinces and the United States as droughts, and groundwater shortages become commonplace.

The report says Canada's federal government needs a hands-on approach in managing water. The COC and MiningWatch Canada are calling for a national water policy to protect our freshwater resources, ban bulk water exports and recognize water as a human right.