Water: appearance before the Standing Committee

Canada Water Agency

Q. What role will the Canada Water Agency play in addressing problems related to water quality and water quantity in Canada?

• The mandate letter received from the Prime Minister directs the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change to work with the support of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, to create a new Canada Water Agency, to work together with the provinces, territories, Indigenous communities, local authorities, scientists and others to find the best ways to keep our water safe, clean and well-managed.
  • The specific role of the Canada Water Agency has not yet been defined. It will be the subject of consultations with the Indigenous peoples, provincial and territorial governments, stakeholders, the public, and others over the coming months.

Q. Is the Government planning to revise the Canada Water Act?

• The Canada Water Act provides a legal framework for undertaking federal- provincial/territorial programs and agreements for the conservation, development and utilization of Canada’s water resources. The Government does not currently have plans to revise the Canada Water Act.
• In the coming months, the Government will be consulting provinces, territories, Indigenous communities, local authorities, scientists and others on its commitment to create a Canada Water Agency. We are expecting to receive many suggestions.
• In the context of the creation of the Canada Water Agency, the Government will identify the best opportunites to protect freshwater resources in Canada, which could potentially include legislative changes.
• The Canada Water Act provides an enabling Framework for collaboration among federal provincial and territorial governments in matters relating to water resources. Joint projects involve the regulation, appointment, monitoring or surveying of water resources and the planning and implementation of program relating to conservation, development and legislation of water resources.

Floods and droughts

Q. What are some of the Government of Canada’s investments related to floods and droughts in Canada?

• In 2018, the Government invested $89.7 million over five years to modernize Canada’s water monitoring services. Through these investments, the Government is helping Canadians continue to get the most timely and accurate information possible on water flow and water levels across Canada’s rivers and lakes. These investments contribute to strengthening resilience and supporting emergency preparedness, including providing water data and information to federal, provincial, and territorial agencies to allow more lead time to take action and mitigate the impacts of extreme water-related disasters.
• In 2019, the Government of Canada invested $151.23 million over five years, with $9.8 million per year ongoing, to improve emergency management in Canada, including in Indigenous communities. This investment included $6.5 million over five years to use early warning systems to improve Canada’s ability to predict and respond to threats including floods.
• ECCC’s mandate letter directed the department to work with Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), and provinces and territories to complete all flood maps in Canada, thereby providing Canadians with the information they need to protect themselves from flood risk.

Q. How does ECCC’s weather service help manage floodings in Canada?

• ECCC’s weather service measures water levels and flow rates on the rivers and the Great Lakes which includes prediction in support of flood forecasting which is carried out by provincial agencies and conservation authorities.
• The weather service also provides timely weather forecasts (precipitation amounts, temperatures and other factors that affect water levels) in support of flood forecasting agencies.

Q. How much of the flooding is the result of climate change?

• Worldwide changes in the extreme precipitation that can lead to flooding are consistent with what climate scientists anticipate from global warming.
• Climate change is affecting the frequency, duration and intensity of many climate-related hazards and disasters such as floods, but also wildfires, droughts and extreme weather events.
• Science is linking climate change with increased risk of floods, heavy rains and more powerful hurricanes and Canadians are starting to experience these extremes.
• It is not yet possible to connect individual weather events with climate change. That said, it is quite clear that there are increasing incidents of extreme weather including droughts and floods.
• The Government of Canada has launched the Canadian Centre for Climate Services so that Canadians have the information and support they need to understand and plan for climate impacts. Through the CCCS, Canadians can learn about how the climate is changing where they live and work, in a way that’s easy to understand and apply

Q: How does the Government of Canada plan to address the risk of flooding to residents and communities around Lake Ontario?

• The water level on Lake Ontario is managed by the International Joint Commission (IJC), an independent bilateral treaty organization. The Government of Canada has confidence in the IJC.
• To regulate water levels, the IJC developed “Plan 2014” based on more than 15 years of scientific study, negotiation and consultation with stakeholders in the Lake Ontario basin. The Plan is expected to provide long-term environmental benefits to the lake ecosystem while taking into account a changing climate.
• To reduce the risk of flooding in spring 2020, the IJC has been releasing water at the maximum rate possible in a manner that balances the impacts to upstream and downstream interests, including shoreline communities and residents, shipping and hydropower.
• The IJC has confirmed it will continue to release water at the maximum rate possible throughout the spring and early summer.
• ECCC provides data on water levels and flow rates on the rivers and the Great Lakes to the IJC as well as to provincial agencies to support flood forecasting.

Freshwater protection

Q. What is the federal government doing to protect Canada’s fresh water from pollution and algae blooms?

• Water quality in Canada is generally acceptable, with some significant regional and local concerns. To address this issue, the Government of Canada:
  • Invested $70.5 million over five years in 2017 to protect the Great Lakes and the Lake Winnipeg Basin. Efforts include improving water quality and conservation; and enhancing collaboration with Indigenous peoples.
    • The Government will also provide greater protection for the Great Lakes and other large lakes in Canada like Lake Winnipeg, as well as supporting restoration efforts for Lake Simcoe
  • Committed $57.5 million over five years in 2017 towards projects and activities that aim to ensure the sustainable use of the St. Lawrence River, and improve its water quality ($35.2 million from the federal government, $22.3 million from the Government of Quebec).
  • Continue to enforce the pollution prevention section of the Fisheries Act, which prohibits releasing pollution into waters frequented by fish unless authorized by regulations.
  • Support water boards in Canada responsible for the management of water quality and water levels for various waterways that cross provincial, territorial and/or international boundaries.

Oceans Protection Plan

• In November 2016, the $1.5 billion Oceans Protection Plan was launched as the largest investment ever made to protect Canada’s coasts and waterways. Since the Oceans Protection Plan started, the Government has implemented over 50 marine safety, research and ecosystem initiatives that span coast to coast to coast.

Q. What is the Government of Canada doing to protect Canada’s oceans?

• Environment and Climate Change Canada, in collaboration with Transport Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Canadian Coast Guard and Natural Resources Canada, engages with Indigenous peoples, coastal communities, the marine industry, and all Canadians to protect Canada’s oceans and waterways. Since launching the Oceans Protection Plan, the Government of Canada has:
  • Increased comprehensive emergency response capacity for marine incidents such as search and rescue, the containment and cleaning of oil spills, and the towing of large vessels in distress;
  • Increased protections for endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales that will address prey availability, protect their habitat, decrease vessel noise and reduce contaminants in their environment;
  • Created new scientific research partnerships to increase overall knowledge of the ocean and ensure public policy is based on sound scientific evidence; and
  • Actively engaged with Indigenous peoples across the country to build new partnerships, facilitate their participation in the marine safety system and work with them to collaborate on specific marine initiatives.

Wastewater

Q. What is the federal government doing to reduce the amount of untreated or undertreated wastewater effluent released in the environment?

• Approximately 25% of effluent released in Canada remains untreated or undertreated. To address this issue, the Government of Canada:
  • put in place the Wastewater Systems Effluent Regulations, which came into effect in 2015. The regulations set mandatory, minimum, national effluent quality standards that are achievable through secondary treatment. This level of treatment allows the removal of up to 95% of conventional pollutants and up to 90% of other contaminants.
  • made significant investments in infrastructure. Since 2015, the Government of Canada has contributed $1.6 billion to more than 1,400 wastewater projects in Canada to support cleaner water for communities.
• The federal government has put in place the Metal and Diamond Mining Regulations and the Pulp and Paper Effluent Regulations, which set mandatory minimum and national effluent quality standards.
  • effluent regulations are also being developed for both the coal mining and oil sands mining sectors.

Q. What enforcement mechanisms does the Government of Canada have for those who don’t meet Regulations by their deadline?

• When enforcement officers become aware of potential non-compliance, they conduct inspections in order to assess the compliance of each municipality and determine the appropriate course of action on a case-by-case basis. Enforcement officers can also open investigations, as appropriate, in order to gather evidence to substantiate alleged violations.
• Enforcement officers determine the most appropriate course of action given the information gathered from, and degree of cooperation of, the regulated party.