Western Premiers Agree to Water Charter

The Western Premiers have been a busy bunch during their two-day conference in Vancouver. Yesterday, they discussed a new strategy to conserve and manage Canada’s valuable fresh water supplies.

“Decreasing glaciers and snowpack, flood threats, and manageable water supplies do not stop at provincial and territorial borders,” said British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell, chair of the 2010 Western Premiers’ Conference. “This work will help us make better decisions and develop comprehensive, long-term water management plans to secure our fresh water supply for future generations.”

Western Premiers also agreed to promote action on water quality and water efficiency to lower water consumption. They supported establishing a national public-awareness campaign through product labelling that helps Canadians choose low-water-use appliances such as dishwashers and washing machines for use in their homes. The Premiers have encouraged federal government to conclude a memorandum of understanding with the United States to implement the WaterSense water-efficiency labelling program in Canada.

The Western Water Stewardship Council, created by Premiers in 2008, will be
tasked with the following.

1.      Identifying existing water and climate science and information activities, including how accessible this information is and how it can support decision making.

2.      Identifying  agencies and others currently engaged in these activities, and how their priorities can align with policy and decision making needs.

3.      Establishing, as appropriate, improved mechanisms to better link these agencies and others, their activities and the policy and decision makers.

The western jurisdictions will also work with the public and private sectors to make the next World Water Day, set for March 22, 2011, a national event to promote water conservation.

Premiers agreed to a Water Charter to underscore the need for immediate action on water priorities. Western Premiers will ask all provinces to join the charter at the upcoming Council of the Federation meeting.