Prairie Water : Sovereignty, Scarcity and Conservation (RECORDING)
Should we be concerned about threats by U.S. President Trump to take Canada’s freshwater?
Very recent rhetoric by US President Trump to annex Canada, including our fresh water, has concerned many Canadians. Some claim this to be more Trump “hot air”. Others insist that we need to take Trump seriously.
The Council of Canadians Edmonton Chapter plans an Expert Panel Webinar with speakers from hydrology, law, agriculture and biological sciences to address this question and relevant internal issues. Specific questions we hope to answer include :
1) What are the current internal threats to Canadian prairie water? Fresh water in Canada’s Prairie Provinces is also arguably under serious threat from climate change and drought, source depletion, industrial growth, hydroelectric dams, outdated policies, agreements and laws and mismanagement.
2) What tools do Canadians have to confront threats to our water? Laws, agreements and treaties are available to us, such as the Alberta Water Act currently bans bulk water export. But can Trump overrule these?
3) Can we transform the perceived threats to our water into opportunities to conserve what we have?
SPEAKERS AND TOPICS
Dr. Tricia Stadnyk – P.Eng. Canada Research Chair Tier II (Hydrologic Modelling) Professor, Schulich School of Engineering (Civil) & Faculty of Arts (Geography) University of Calgary | Treaty 7
Topic – Canada’s water security for the 21st century as decreasing supply across a drought-prone Prairies intersects with increasing demand, intensive regulation and practices, antiquated licensing, and geopolitical tension: deficient policy and investment, and an insufficient national water policy.
Wendy Holm, P.Ag.(Ret’d), M.M.C.C.U.
Topic – Peace River Hydroelectric Dams, i.e. Existing Bennett and Site C dams, proposed Amisk Hydroelectric Dam, trade agreements and US Army Corps of Engineers continental plans to divert Alaskan water into the Peace River and south into the US via the Amisk dam.
Dr. Allen Good, Professor Emeritus, U of A Biological Sciences
Topic – Demand for water by the agricultural sector, and how that integrates with the changes in available water due to climate change. Water agreements in S. Alberta and Sask.
Martin Z. Olszynski, LL.M, LL.B., B.Sc. Associate Professor and Chair in Energy, Resources and Sustainability, Faculty of Law, University of Calgary – Martin previously worked as legal counsel for Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
Topic – Alberta rules around water licensing and prohibitions on inter-basin transfers.
Please join us to help determine the future of our most precious resource – water.
