The intention of these changes is to refocus navigation approvals towards projects that are more likely to impact navigation activities. It also moves away from using the NWPA to regulate a wide range of environmentally significant activities in a large number of Canadian waterways. In Alberta, the creation of a category of works and classes of waters that are not subject to approval may have ramifications in the energy sector. New classes of minor works included in the May Ministerial Order will include some power lines and pipelines, water intakes, and dredging.
This may leave projects that have historically had federal environmental assessments without significant opportunities for public participation. In the United States, the public trust doctrine holds that certain natural resources belong to everyone and must be managed in the broader common public interest.
Many major players in the environmental movement in Canada have sought to see the public trust aspect of environmental and natural resource regulation expanded north of the border. Changes to the NWPA appear to represent a rejection of the concept of public rights to natural resources.
These changes also reflect a view of water resources and navigation that is highly compartmentalized. The distinction between minor waters and other navigable waters ignores the hydrological interrelationship between tributaries and major water bodies on a watershed level.
What is perhaps more striking is that a rejection of public resource rights to navigation is a rejection not only of certain environmental values, but also of more deeply rooted public values that predate the environmental movement, and even constitutional democracy. Lakes surrounded by private land must prevent public access to maintain this exemption.
In Alberta, the beds of such lakes, if natural and permanent, belong to the province under the Water Act. It may well be the case that these public lands become increasingly difficult to access for enforcement, recreation and research.
The Environmental Law Centre ELC has been seeking strong and effective environmental laws since it was founded in The ELC is dedicated to providing credible, comprehensive and objective legal information regarding natural resources, energy and environmental law, policy and regulation in Alberta.
Our vision is a society where laws secure an environment that sustains current and future generations. As a charity, the Environmental Law Centre depends on your financial support. Help us to continue to educate and champion for strong environmental laws, through tools such as our blog and all of our other resources , so that all Albertans can enjoy a healthy environment.
Your support makes a difference. Despite improvements in household water conservation over the past decade, Canada is still one of the largest per capita users of freshwater in the world.
Number of long-term drinking water advisories in effect on First Nations reserves across Canada as of March 11, Long-term drinking water advisories are applied to public water systems on reserve and can mean the water is safe to drink after boiling, or not safe for consumption at all.
Many communities have had advisories in effect for 10 years or more. A boil water advisory was issued in February and has been in place ever since. A reverse osmosis plant on the edge of town supplies purified drinking water, but residents must pick it up and transport it themselves, posing problems for the elderly and young families.
View the discussion thread. The RCGS acknowledges that its offices are located on the unceded territory of the Algonquin Peoples, who have been guardians of, and in relationship with, these lands for thousands of years.
The RCGS is a registered charity. Click here to learn more. Donate and Support Geography in Canada. The Royal Canadian Geographical Society family of sites:. The Royal Canadian Geographical Society. Canadian Geographic Photo Club. Canadian Geographic Education. Canadian Geographic student geography challenge. Help designate an official bird for Canada. Help improve energy literacy in Canada. All about Energy. Grade 8 students exploring Parks Canada sites.
Compare countries' statistics and explore our changing world. Innovative projects in the developing world. Commemorating Canada's Great War flyers. Canada does recycle its freshwater, but on a small scale in isolated areas, and largely for agricultural use in areas like British Columbia and the Prairies.
So, as municipal water supplies decrease or degrade in the future, water reuse in Canada will likely have to increase; in the meantime, the easiest and best answer may simply be to use less water. As responsible water stewards, we can take further action to show the rest of the world how to conserve and sustainably use water.
Fitting faucets with aerators and installing modern, dual-flush toilets help to achieve the same results with much less water, while simple habit changes like only washing full loads of clothes and turning the tap off while brushing teeth also result in substantial savings. And it all adds up—just reducing time spent showering by two minutes can save around 2, liters of water per month, and not pre-rinsing dishes before loading the dishwasher saves up to 75 liters per load.
These are small, water-conscious choices that each of us can make every single day. And, if a water-rich country like Canada continues to reduce its consumption, the rest of the world will likely agree that they should, too. All rights reserved.
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