Comments on: Bulk Water Exports: Should Canada Sell Its ‘Blue Gold’?

By: Stacy

Stacy — Tue, 10 May 2011 16:11:28 +0000

Stacy, we have the same name. You put that in thought I really you are right… I think no if you want to know

By: missy k

missy k — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:15:07 +0000

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.

By: 16 Unusual International Perspectives on Water : EcoWorldly

16 Unusual International Perspectives on Water : EcoWorldly — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 21:47:36 +0000

[...] 2. Quebec, Canada sees water as an easy way to make $65 billion a year with bulk water sales to the thirsty and heavily urbanized United States. This agrees with the current US government, which argues that water should be seen as a trade commodity, like oil. However, many Canadians see water as a fundamental resource, not only for humans, but also for the wildlife and fauna that inhabit Canada. [...]

By: Sean

Sean — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 01:16:55 +0000

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.

By: PacificGatePost

PacificGatePost — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 18:54:37 +0000

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

By: Uncle B

Uncle B — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 23:38:37 +0000

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!

By: Kattie

Kattie — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 16:13:22 +0000

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

By: bob brouse

bob brouse — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 15:43:10 +0000

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

By: Gavin Hudson

Gavin Hudson — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 05:27:04 +0000

Stacy, I think you put that very well.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 18:43:23 +0000

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.