Blue Communities

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Blue Community The Blue Communities Project encourages municipalities and Indigenous communities to support the idea of a water commons framework, recognizing that water is a shared resource for all, by passing resolutions that:

Recognize water and sanitation as human rights.
Ban or phase out the sale of bottled water in municipal facilities and at municipal events.
Promote publicly financed, owned, and operated water and wastewater services.

The Council of Canadians, the Blue Planet Project and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) initiated the Blue Communities Project in 2009. Eau Secours is a partner on the Blue Communities Project in Quebec. The Blue Communities movement has grown internationally with Paris, France, Bern, Switzerland and other municipalities around the world going “blue.” Schools, religious communities and faith-based groups have also adopted principles that treat water as a common good that is shared by everyone and is the responsibility of all.

Here are some answers to commonly asked questions about the Blue Communities Project.

We invite you to become a part of the local and global movement for water security and justice by joining the Blue Communities Project – a joint initiative that furthers the work of local Water Watch coalitions across the country.

Learn what you can do as a community activist, public sector worker or municipal councillor to help protect the water commons – our shared water resources – in the face of increasing pressure to put water up for sale and privatize water services.

Map of Blue Communities:

Recent highlights

Guelph chapter member says grassroots can fight water commodification

January 15, 2019

Cameron Fioret, a PhD student at the University of Guelph and member of the Guelph chapter of the Council of Canadians, writes in a thought-provoking op-ed that “the advent of the commodification and privatization of water has resulted in strife and inequality amongst the most marginalized people in society.” Fioret goes on to say that “it is a widespread, pressing issue that will be exacerbated...

Council of Canadians debunks Fraser Institute water report

December 13, 2018

The information in the Fraser Institute's report on water and its conclusions paint an inaccurate and dangerous picture of water security in Canada. Information about long-standing drinking water advisories in First Nations, droughts and other climate events, and extreme energy projects like the tar sands is missing from the report. This gives a skewed view of water quantity and quality in Canada...

Maude Barlow delivers speech and leads panel at Nobel Week Dialogue

December 10, 2018

Council of Canadians Honorary Chairperson Maude Barlow, a world renowned water warrior, spoke to a packed auditorium about the future of water as part of the Nobel Week Dialogue. The event is an annual conference that is held in advance of Nobel Week. It brings together a select group of the world's leading scientists, policy makers and thinkers for a series of thought-provoking sessions and...

Six Nations youth leads protest against Nestlé

November 25, 2018

“I don’t want my friends’ babies or their babies to ever worry about not having water,” Makasa Looking Horse (photo above) said to the audience who gathered at JC Hill Elementary School on a rainy morning.

Quinte Chapter organizes event on challenging the corporate rule of water

November 23, 2018

On November 14, I spoke to a residents of Prince Edward County (PEC) about current water issues as part of the Corporatizing Canada book tour. The inspiring people in this community are another example of how frontline communities are our greatest hope for water justice.