“We have been quick to assume
rights to use water but slow to
recognize obligations to preserve
and protect it…”
- Sandra Postel, Last Oasis
Water in the context
of Alberta
Maude Barlow UNA clip
Blue planet project part 1/3 10:35
http://www.una.ab.ca/news/archive/Maude
BarlowUNAAGM
Fact: Alberta has a
growing water
crisis
CLIMATE CHANGE
Current Allocation
System
Based off of the 1894 North West
Irrigation Act to encourage people to
settle in the west
Became the First in Time, First in Right
system (FITFIR)
Review in the 90’s led to adoption of the
1999 Water Act
Problems with the
current system
Junior licenses have no water security in
dry years (FITFIR)
No prioritization of basic human needs
or for clean water users
Ecosystem and instream flow levels not
recognized
Disrespect for First Nations water rights
Poor enforcement
We
need
change
What are water
markets?
The 1999 Water Act introduced “water
transfers” to allow reallocation of water
between users
August 30, 2006 the government placed
a moratorium on new water licenses in
the SSRB
Created Canada’s first water market
Reasons for Concern
Commodification of the commons:
selling the right to use water
Licenses to use collective water given
away and can now be sold
Leaves social and environmental needs
to be determined by the market
Municipalities, small farmers and others
must now compete with industry
Water will go to the highest bidder, not
public interest
Visualize A River
Given all of the demands on the
use of water, how would you decide
to prioritize those uses?
Who do you think should be
involved in this decision making
process?
Provincial Review of
the Water Act
In 2008, Alberta Environment Minister
Rob Renner, announced he would
review and update Alberta’s water
allocation system.
“The water allocation system that we
have in place needs to be reviewed.”
(Minister Rob Renner who added that a
public review will come within 18
months) -Calgary Herald September 4th,
2008
Top Down Decision
Making
“Come August or September, I’ll have
enough of an idea on the direction we
want to go that we’ll put together a
document that will then become the
focus of public consultations; it’s
important that the people have
something specific to comment on.” –
Calgary Herald, March 9, 2008.
Since then three reports have been publicly
submitted to the Government of Alberta, all
assuming water markets are THE policy
option.
The Reports
The reports are from the Minister’s
Advisory Group, Alberta Water
Council (WATSUP team), Alberta
Water Research Institute
The AWC’s mandate: “Review the
water allocation transfer system to
ensure a viable market that moves
water to support sustainable
economic development.”
What did the ‘experts’
Say?
Maintain FITFIR system
Protect water? WCO’s are
Problematic
Treat water licenses like a
private property in a water
market
Set up private brokers to
Facilitate water transfers
Tiered review process
Abolishing need for planning
and enforcement (WMP’s)
Problems with the
proposed system
No security for junior licenses in times of
water scarcity (FITFIR)
No prioritization for clean water users,
basic human needs, and the ecosystem
No deterrents for dirty water users
No respect for First Nation’s water rights
Poor enforcement
Clean Water Uses?
Quotes directly from
the Reports
“Abolish the requirement to have a
Water Management Plan, approved by
Cabinet, before transfers are allowed.”
(MAG)
“Remove operational barriers and
streamline the transfer system” (MAG)
“Provide an efficient means of reallocating water from lower-value uses
to higher-value uses.” (AWC)
Higher Value Uses
“…one that translates into a higher Gross
Domestic Product, more money
circulating in a community, more tax
dollars, etc.” (AWC)
Myth: Water markets could
increase GDP and that can
only be good for society
Fact: Car accidents, oil spills, and
extreme weather also increase the
GDP.
Myth: Water markets
encourage conservation
Fact:
Water is not a typical commodity
and water markets have proven to have
drastic consequences worldwide.
Water markets create a profit incentive
for license holders to use the entirety of
their allocation taking water previously
available for in-stream flow away.
Warnings
Quotes from Conference Board of
Canada Report:
“Greater use of market principles… may
end up excluding certain users from
access”
“Significant increases [in prices] can be
expected as markets establish
themselves.”
“Trade agreements…may pose
significant risks.”
“We are far too willing to gamble with
things that are precious and
irreplaceable.”
-Naomi Klein
Failures of markets
internationally
Australia: John Caldecott, Convenor
of the Water Allocation Coalition, stated
“it has become the biggest scandal and
disaster of our time…in terms of its
economic, social, and environmental
significance.”
Chile: major contributing factor to the
declining financial well being of small
farmers
Headlines
Water corporation raises its water delivery
rates –Brooks Bulletin, Tuesday January 11, 2011
Alternatives
Prioritize environment and basic
human needs
UN recognition of water as a human
right
Public Trust Doctrine
Replace FITIFIR with a “share system”
based on flows
Take unused water portion of licenses
back for water protection with no
impact on real use of water
Proposal coming soon!
What can you do?
Sign on to the open letter to
Environment Minister Rob Renner.
Learn more about the water review and
your own watershed.
Spread the word! Talk about the
issue with your friends and family or host
a presentation!
Action tool kit coming soon!
Stay informed! Sign up for updates
and action alerts.
Stay Connected!
Our Water Is Not For Sale
Network:www.ourwaterisnotforsa
le.com
Council of Canadians:
http://www.canadians.org/water
Prairie Water Directive:
http://www.prairiewaterwatch.ca
Sierra Club Prairie Chapter:
http://prairie.sierraclub.ca
Public Interest Alberta:
http://www.pialberta.org
Thank You!