At an international water conference in Toronto on World Water Day 22 March 2011, former Canadian prime minister Jean Chrétien suggested a new national conversation on bulk water export was needed. In 1999 Mr. Chrétien's government pushed for a prohibition on bulk water trade, but now he says he doesn’t know on which side of the debate he would stand.
“When you look at the debate, countries who are lacking water are next to countries that have water. Imagine the difficulties of this problem,” the long-time federal leader told reporters. “It’s why some people say that there might be war over water in the future.”
Published on: 04/04/2011
At an international water conference in Toronto on World Water Day 22 March 2011, former Canadian prime minister Jean Chrétien suggested a new national conversation on bulk water export was needed. In 1999 Mr. Chrétien's government pushed for a prohibition on bulk water trade, but now he says he doesn’t know on which side of the debate he would stand.
“When you look at the debate, countries who are lacking water are next to countries that have water. Imagine the difficulties of this problem,” the long-time federal leader told reporters. “It’s why some people say that there might be war over water in the future.”
Proposals to transfer water to the U.S. from Canada date back to the 1950s, but political resistance and high costs have prevented its implementation. This has made water entrepreneurs, who say they have potential customers in China and the Middle East, shift their attention to Alaska.
The state [Alaska] is the only American jurisdiction that allows bulk exports, opening its waterways in 1992. Of the eight applications received by the state, only one has been approved, but it’s unclear when or even if exports will flow from Blue Lake reservoir.
Back in Canada, Mr. Chrétien’s call for a debate on water exports was rejected by both government and opposition parties.MPs of all political stripes are in no mood to entertain water exports.
“The vast, vast majority of Canadians are against the idea of exporting our water in bulk,” said Quebec Liberal MP Francis Scarpaleggia, noting most of the nation’s renewable water flows north, away from large population centres. “It could cause irreparable damage to ecosystems. Moving water around brings invasive species from one basin into another.”
Mr. Scarpaleggia, the party’s water critic, said Canada should instead look to export its scientific and technological expertise to developing countries coping with water scarcity – a growing problem in many regions of the world, particularly the Middle East and North Africa.
In 2010, the Canadian government introduced a bill to strengthen existing protections against bulk water removal. A debate on the bill will have to wait, however, until after the May 2011 elections.
Mr. Chrétien still believes a debate on water exports is necessary.
“Whenever we have a question on water it’s always a huge controversy. But when you look at the reality, here we have a lot of water. Are we able to share this benefit we’re having that others don’t have?”.
Source: Renata D’Aliesio, Globe and Mail, 31 Mar 2011
