Manitoba Wildlands  
Protect Water from Bulk Removal 15 April 08

dripping tapA recently released report by the Polaris Institute, an Ottawa-based think tank, called Turning on Canada's Tap describes how trade deals with the U.S. including the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) have loosened Canada's control over water.

"We don't have legislation dealing with bulk water exports. What's required is federal legislation; a federal ban" said Tony Clarke, Polaris Institute director and author of the report.

The International Boundary Waters Treaty Act bans bulk removal from Canadian boundary waters and a provincial-federal accord prohibits water sales to foreign buyers. The report identifies a five step agenda to strengthen Canadian sovereignty over our waters:
  • Rebuild Canada's water protection capacities
  • Establish a federal ban on bulk water exports
  • Remove water protection restrictions in trade regimes
  • Utilize bi-national water treaty mechanisms
  • Implement bold water conservation measures
Urgent action is needed as many American cities are looking north for resources, as they expect to face serious water shortages by 2015. U.S. President George Bush has already made public requests that Canada begin making bulk water exports to the Unites States and Democrat presidential candidates have indicated the need to renegotiate NAFTA for the benefit of the United States.

View Polaris Institute's 2008 Turning on Canada's Tap: Summary (PDF)
View Polaris Institute's 2008 Turning on Canada's Tap: Full Report (PDF)
View April 3, 2008 CTV article
View April 3, 2008 Toronto Star article
View April 5, 2008 Toronto Star article
View April 3, 2008 Reuters article

Sources: Polaris Institute, CTV, The Toronto Star, Reuters
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