Canada Water Agency

Last updated
Canada Water Agency
Agence canadienne de l'eau
Agency overview
Formed2023
Jurisdiction Government of Canada
Headquarters Winnipeg, Manitoba
Minister responsible
Agency executive
  • vacant, President
Website www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/water-overview/canada-water-agency.html

The Canada Water Agency (French : Agence canadienne de l'eau) is an agency of the Government of Canada responsible for freshwater governance. It coordinates and administers federal programs and policies relating to the management and conservation of freshwater ecosystems.

Contents

History

The establishment of a federal water agency was a part of the Liberal platform during Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's campaign for both the 2019 and 2021 elections. [1] [2] After the Liberals won in 2021, the initiative was included in the mandate letter to Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault. [3] Submission of comments from interested parties followed. [4]

The founding of the agency was officially announced by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland as part of the 2022 budget. The 2023 budget provided 85.5 million in funding to establish the agency. [5] [6] [7]

The Canada Water Agency was established as a part of Environment Canada in 2023, with legislation planned later that year to elevate it to a stand-alone agency. In November 2023, legislation formally establishing the agency was tabled by Freeland as part of the 2023 Fall Economic Statement. [8] It received royal assent on June 20, 2024. [9]

The agency's first major actions are to implement the Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative and lead the modernization of the Canada Water Act. [6]

Organization and functions

The agency is headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba. It's located in the Cityplace complex, alongside Environment Canada. [10] The Agency will also have regional offices in Vancouver, Toronto, Burlington, Quebec City, and Halifax. [11] Like other Canadian government agencies, it is responsible to Parliament through a minister, namely the Minister of Environment and Climate Change. [12]

The role of the agency is to assist the Minister in exercising their powers and functions relating to freshwater, particularly under the Department of the Environment Act and the Canada Water Act, and the Minister delegates their powers to the agency to this effect. [12] The Canada Water Agency is not a law enforcement agency, nor does it directly wield any regulatory power. Instead, it focuses on coordination and funding. It also provides policy advice and expertise, an example of which is the modernization of the Canada Water Act, the agency's first major initiative. [6] [13]

The Agency administers several programs that fund the conservation and restoration of freshwater resources. These include EcoAction, a program that provides grants to nonprofit, non-governmental organizations for local projects that improve water quality and freshwater ecosystem health. [14] Lake-specific restoration plans, such as the Great Lakes Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative have also been included. [15]

See also

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References

  1. ↑ Calzavara, Mark (2021-12-09). "The Canada Water Agency: All carrot, no stick". The Council of Canadians. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
  2. ↑ Schuster-Wallace, Corinne; Robert Sandford (2021-09-13). "Making the promised Canada Water Agency a reality". Policy Options. Retrieved 2024-02-08.
  3. ↑ "Minister of Environment and Climate Change Mandate Letter". Prime Minister of Canada. 2021-12-14. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
  4. ↑ "Designing the Canada Water Agency: what we heard: highlights from the virtual engagement series how the Canada Water Agency can deliver water security for Canadians" (PDF). Global Water Futures. 2021. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
  5. ↑ "Spring is coming – where is our Canada Water Agency?". The Globe and Mail. 2023-03-22. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
  6. 1 2 3 "Canada Water Agency will be up and running next spring". www.ipolitics.ca. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
  7. ↑ Hania, Patricia (2024). "The Canada Water Act, 1970: Did Parliamentarians seek cooperative federalism?". Canadian Public Administration. 67 (3): 291–428.
  8. ↑ Canada, Environment and Climate Change (2023-06-20). "Canada Water Agency". www.canada.ca. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
  9. ↑ Canada, Department of Finance (2024-06-20). "Legislation to make life more affordable, build more homes, and strengthen economy for everyone receives Royal Assent". www.canada.ca. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  10. ↑ Updates, Carol Sanders Posted: Last Modified (2024-05-17). "Downtown advocates expect new federal water agency at Cityplace to help ease worker drought conditions in area". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved 2024-05-22.
  11. ↑ "Sault Ste. Marie loses bids to host new federal water agency offices". CTV News. 2023-04-01. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
  12. 1 2 "Government Bill (House of Commons) C-59 (44-1) - First Reading - Fall Economic Statement Implementation Act, 2023 - Parliament of Canada". www.parl.ca. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
  13. ↑ Read, Christopher (2023-11-24). "New federal water legislation aims to do better on Indigenous rights". APTN News. Retrieved 2023-12-29.
  14. ↑ Canada, Environment and Climate Change. "Government of Canada invests in community-based projects across the country to protect fresh water". www.newswire.ca. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
  15. ↑ Canada, Environment and Climate Change (2023-12-15). "Canada invites applications for funding to protect freshwater ecosystems". www.canada.ca. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
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