Canada’s Rivers at Risk

OTTAWA--The Green Party of Canada is urging the Canadian government to heed the warnings contained in World Wildlife Fund Canada’s newest report, Canada’s Rivers at Risk-Environmental Flows and Canada’s Freshwater Future. The report warns that freshwater in Canada is at risk because of disrupted flow regimes, which will be exacerbated by climate change.  “This report is based on extremely sound science and the government would be prudent to follow its recommendations,” said Green Leader Elizabeth May.  “Previous Throne Speeches have promised action on freshwater but that promise has been ignored ever since.”

WWF-Canada makes three key recommendations in the report: take immediate and significant action on climate change, limit the amount of water being withdrawn from freshwater sources and prohibit interbasin transfers, and balance natural river flow with human uses such as hydropower.

“The Green Party has been consistently calling for a coherent plan for freshwater protection for years now,” said May. “The science is once again showing us that the need for action is urgent as current conditions are placing a heavy strain on our valuable freshwater reserves.”

When it comes to our vision for freshwater, the Green Party’s message is clear: Keep it. Conserve it. Protect it.

•    Keep it. The Green Party supports current Federal Water Policy that emphatically opposes large-scale exports (bulk exports) of our water.
•    Conserve it. The federal government must work to ensure sustainable use of our water resources and at the same time maintain and improve access to safe water for all Canadians.
•    Protect it. The federal government must use its powers and its role in inter-jurisdictional water sharing to protect and restore freshwater ecosystems and their ecological services (e.g. as habitats for fish and freshwater species; as domestic water supplies; for energy-generation and recreation; as sources of water for irrigation and other economic uses).

Protection of our freshwater is especially important when considering the changes in quality and quantity of Canada’s freshwater that will occur due to climate change. The Great Lakes’ levels will fall, resulting in higher concentrations of toxic chemicals and other pollutants; BC rivers will become over-heated preventing salmon spawning, and farmers will face increasing drought. The Athabasca River is already experiencing significant declines in flow due to climatic impacts and tar sand developments.

WWF-Canada’s report, along with the technical study on which the report is based, is available at www.wwf.ca/rivers.

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Contact:
Debra Eindiguer
Press Secretary
(c) 613-240-8921
media@greenparty.ca
www.greenparty.ca