Wednesday, June 10, 2026
Toronto Metropolitan University’s Bruce Fellows in Canadian Freshwater Policy have mobilized over 1,000 signatures in support of establishing an official Canada Water Week, exceeding the 500-signature threshold required to table a petition in Parliament.
The initiative, sponsored by Member of Parliament Terry Duguid in February, gave Canadians 30 days to support the campaign. Led by Dr. Carolyn Johns, Chair of the Bruce Fellowship in Canadian Freshwater Policy, and Mike Goffin, Bruce Water Policy Executive in Residence, students developed email and social media campaigns, videos, and outreach materials to promote the petition across campus networks, national and watershed organizations, and environmental groups.
On March 23, the petition was announced in the House of Commons by MP Duguid, connecting student-led advocacy directly to the federal parliamentary process. The announcement coincided with World Water Day and a national launch event for federal government funding for a new Canada Water Literacy project, attended by over 100 water policy leaders.
“Their efforts mobilized 1,000 signatures from across Canada in the 30-day petition period, well beyond the 500 required to be tabled in Parliament,” TMU said in a news release, “demonstrating how student-led advocacy, when supported by experienced policy leaders, can contribute meaningfully to national actions related to freshwater governance.”
During their Ottawa visit, Bruce Fellows met with government officials, Indigenous water leaders, the President of the Canada Water Agency, and water policy advocates. MP Duguid later visited TMU to meet with the fellows and learn about the university’s water policy work.
A formal government response to the petition is expected in June. The initiative carries added significance as it honours the legacy of Erika Bruce, who established the Geoffrey F. Bruce Fellowships in Canadian Freshwater Policy in 2017 and passed away recently.
Canada holds approximately 20 per cent of the planet’s freshwater and seven per cent of its renewable fresh water. At a time when water systems face pressure from climate change, urban development, and emerging industrial demands, the call for Canada Water Week addresses a growing policy priority.
Featured image: (L to R) Wade Grant, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change; Carolyn Johns, MP Terry Duguid, Nami Leonard, Wyatt Weatherson and Michelle Jadormeo. (TMU)
