A Quebec think-tank, the Montreal Economic Institute, recently released a report encouraging bulk water exports from Canada to the United States. The report concludes that Quebec could sip on a cool $65 billion a year by selling just 10% of its ”renewable blue gold” to its thirsty and heavily urbanized southern neighbor. However, the report’s not just making waves in small economic circles, it’s rocking the already-unsteady boat of Canadian public opinion on US export policy.
Since the 1960′s, when Canadians learned of plans to privatize and divert large quantities of Canada’s water, many in the country have been wary that the US will view Canada as a “great, green sponge” and come after its water resources. They may not be far from the mark. Since he came into office, President Bush began using his dry home state of Texas in talks to push then Prime Minister Jean Chretien to turn on the tap of Canada’s water. Past US Ambassador to Canada, Paul Celucci, also made regular attempts to convince Canada that water should be a trade commodity, like oil. Moreover, in a time when much of the American public seems to rely on South Park for information about Canada, there’s very little understanding in the US about Canadians’ sensitivity over the issue of resource exports (and water exports in particular) to the United States.
In addition, according to the Polaris Institute, the US view of Canada as a country of boundless water is dangerously misleading. Although the World Resources Institute lists Canada as the third most abundant country for renewable water, or water that is replenished annually by rain and snow fall, the PI notes that 60% of Canada’s rivers flow away from populated areas into the arctic and therefore cannot be used by either Canadians or Americans.
Recognizing the sensitivity of the issue, the MEI report anticipated Canadian’s swift backlash before the report was published. But, it suggests that redefining water as a trade item will ultimately protect Canada’s water resources by encouraging the establishment of “a legal and regulatory framework.” It also argues that, in a sense, exporting water to the United States is the ethical thing to do.
“If parts of the world were to suffer from serious water distress, they will have to be supplied with fresh water, which is just as important to life there as it is in regions that are well supplied with water,” reasons the MEI report.
The recent flood of controversy over bulk water exports underscores the sensitivity of Canadians over US trade relations and a difference of opinion as to the management of natural resources. What’s more, with climate change, increasing urbanization, and food production draining America’s water resources at an alarming rate, the debate is likely to only intensify in coming years. Already, according to the PI, America’s largest aquifer in the Great Plains is being drained 14 times faster than nature can replenish it. Does Canada have the economic or even moral imperative to assist the United States by supplying water or is the United States facing a critical crossroads in its own domestic water policy?
Sources: Globe-Net, Polaris Institute, Montreal Economic Institute.
Photo Credit: Randy Son Of Robert via Flickr under a Creative Commons License.
In a word – no. I am Canadian and I believe that every human being has a right to free, clean, water. That said I do not want our water diverted and sold to the US so that people can continue to waste it (Las Vegas anyone?) Our land, oceans, rivers and wild life need that water. All North Americans need to get on board and begin to conserve water. Rain barrels should be used for water storage for watering gardens and plants. People should plant native species that will grow in the climate without additional resources. The problem is not a shortage of resources but the North American culture of gluttony and wastefulness.
Stacy, we have the same name. You put that in thought I really you are right… I think no if you want to know
its our water yanks stay the hell away from it
Canada has no responsibility to provide water for the United States. Whether or not it wants to sell water by the US is another issue, but the US is ultimately responsible for its own sustainability.
Stacy, I think you put that very well.
Hi
The main issue with this idea of
shipping bulk exports of water is
education. of us.me.you. are we as canadians
really ready to turn down american requests for water? the americans already have access
to the great lakes, chicago takes lots every
day, many of the border cities are gearing
up for more of the great lake water. can we tell someone we do two billion a day with that we wont sell them water? export soup? bottled water is fair game now, our industries that ship countless product down south already use something like 26 percent of our usuable water. there needs to be a virtual index, if you make a desk, the trees used this much water, finishing the desk used this much, shipping it used this much, this type of idea. its not just pulling it directly, its that we already do ship millions of gallons disguised as a finished product. we should be talking about this a whole lot more, how many barrels of our water go into shipping oil?
we better get real.
bob brouse.
water.ca
Stacy, I agree with you, but only partialy. I’m extremely proud of being a Canadian, and I hate how people waste so freely what is already in short supply. At the same time, I sort of think that Canada has a right and responsibility to save the lives of others by providing fresh water. This does not mean we have to give it away, but I think Canada is one of the few nations to be as lucky as we are. I mean, who else can say we are a free peope and mean it?
Here’s something to consider. I went to Montana this summer. Driving down the main road of Great Falls, I counted sixteen casions, twenty bars and two huge water parks. Does that mean that America does not DESERVE our ressources, or does it mean that our aid comes with a price?
Also, what does our government have to say about this?
Vive le Canada,
Kattie
Canada is traditionally raped for its resources. Anything that we can cut down, dig up, grow, build, fish, or steal goes to the big market in the south. Our coal all goes to China! Cut the sensitivity crap! Most our cities were founded on the lumber trade. The Grand Banks are “fished out” and our mines are closing. To a Canadian, a job is a job! Get on with it, build the pipelines to our cleanest lakes and pay off the locals with jobs for their kids. This is almost a Canadian tradition! We gave away the Avro Arrow in the 1950′s because it was easer than building an aircraft industry and we are a lazy, “gimmie the cash now” going to the beer parlor type people. Our only resources are our natural resources, and they ARE FOR SALE always! Quebec sells all its power to New York State and nobody’s crying!
CANADA – NATIONALIZE BULK WATER EXPORTS
‘Water is not for trade’ – A myopic and very misguided statement. Why is it that OIL, which in Alberta means money plus devastation of the landscape, is OK to trade, but WATER is not?
The Canadian government should establish a national policy, and it should take control of fresh water sales.
The revenues will enable funding of Medicare and Education at a time when the rest of the world’s economies are heading into the tank.
NOTE:
http://pacificgatepost.blogspot.com/2008/03/water-not-policy-in-sight-nor-insight.html
Despite this story being slightly stale, stuffed away in the cupboard as it is, I feel I have to comment.
I am only a layman, so my understanding is limited, but what has not been mentioned yet is NAFTA. If we were to classify water as a trade resource and sell it to the United States, it would fall under the control of NAFTA, which has historically leant far in favour of the United States and their protectionist trade policies whilst crippling Canadian businesses at the same time.
My memory is poor, but it seems that if we allow water to be traded, we lose our control over the water in our country because of a regulatory trade body that rules with a southward bias.
water is not only therefor us but for plants and animals too. they lose their habitats. who needs the money from selling the water. we can’t live with just money. if all the water disapears because we sold it to other countries, we will not be able to live. canada has only 20% of the worlds water so it can’t just be wasted by selling. look at how much thinks we use water for. damaging our ecosystem and killing the world’s wildlife is not worth the money.