Not serious about our water

Canadians like to think we are world leaders when it comes to protecting our water resources, but in reality we are dilettantes who talk a good game but rarely follow through.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper's promise in the Throne Speech to ban bulk water exports fits this picture. To find a group of politicians who are actually doing something you have to look south to the United States and the Council of Great Lakes Governors.

The promise in the Throne Speech bears all the hallmarks of political posturing. Here in its entirety is what was said: “To ensure protection of our vital resources, our government will bring in legislation to ban all bulk water transfers or exports from Canadian freshwater basins.”

No further details were given. And there were none to be found. Jim Prentice, who as Environment Minister is responsible for water policy, refused to say anything more this week. Officials at his department were similarly mum.

After a day of saying nothing, they decided that the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade was calling the shots. Officials there didn't seem to know anything more than their colleagues at Environment Canada.

Confusion reigns in Canada

The confusion over who is in charge is a clear indication that this is not exactly a high-priority item for the government, even though the bare-bones promise is being endlessly repeated by a succession of ministers as they take their turn in the debate on the Speech from the Throne. Repeat something often enough and chances are someone will believe you.

Has the policy even been thought through? The previous minister of the environment, John Baird, insisted last year that there were already adequate measures in place to protect Canadian water from export. Groups like the Council of Canadians, whose chairwoman, Maude Barlow, has recently been appointed a special adviser on water to the UN, disagree, saying tougher legislation is needed.

The Conservative party platform from the last election straddles these two positions. It said that a Conservative government would “reaffirm” the ban on bulk water transfers, which seems to back Mr. Baird's position.

But the document then goes on to say that a Conservative government would work with the provinces and territories “to strengthen the current ban and ensure a clear legislative prohibition on bulk water removals or export from Canadian drainage basins.”

So, perhaps not the ironclad protection that Mr. Baird implied. more