Canadian Bulk Water Export

Paper Summary:

The writer discusses that water exportation has emerged as a serious matter for the Canadian government as the United States begins to cast covetous eyes northward. With that in mind, this paper looks at the environmental values in play, at the various government institutions at the heart of the matter, at the agencies/departments involved and at the relative strength of the present policy and what environmental policy tools were most likely used in its crafting. In the end, the writer notes that what should emerge from this study is the recognition that Canada may not have a perfect strategy, but at least a strategy of some kind is in place. The writer concludes that while the future is obviously still to be determined, Canada at least has a workable legislative framework in place to protect its water reserves.

Outline:
Environmental Values
Relevant (Government) Institutions
Pertinent Government Agencies/Departments
Relevant Organizations
The Quality of the Decision and the Environmental Policy Tools Used
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"In any case, the 2002 amendments do follow a general pattern of greater federal involvement in the issue. For instance, the 2002 measure delineated above is actually an extension of prior amendments brought into effect the preceding year whereby the International Boundary Waters Treaty Act was modified in such a way that "bulk" water removal from the Canadian parts of the boundary waters - chiefly the Great Lakes - would no longer be permitted. Finally, a still-earlier report from March of 2000 (jointly written by the Canadian and American governments) entitled, Protection of the Waters of the Great Lakes, mandates that water removal from the Great Lakes should not proceed unless it can be satisfactorily proved that the ecosystem of the Great Lakes Basin will not be harmed. All in all, Ottawa has asserted itself on this matter and made it clear that it will use its legislative purview to establish laws protecting Canada's freshwater deposits; simultaneously, the Canadian government - as the chief international negotiator acting on behalf of all Canadians - has made a concerted effort to join with its American counterparts in deploring and discouraging the mass export of water from vulnerable boundary areas."

Sample of Sources Used:

• The Alliance for Democracy. (2002). Alliance chapters fight northern California water-grab. Alliance Helps Defeat Water Grab. Retrieved November 9, 2006, from <http://www.thealliancefordemocracy.org/html/eng/2039-AA.shtml>
• Canadian Union of Public Employees, British Columbia. (2006). Bulk water export backgrounder. Its Our Water: Why Would We Give It Away? Retrieved November 9, 2006, from <http://www.cupe.bc.ca/2984>
• El Ayoubi, Farah, and McNiven, James. (2006). Political, environmental and business aspects of bulk water exports: A Canadian perspective. Canadian Journal of Administrative Sciences, 23(1): 1-16.
• Environment Canada. (2004). Frequently asked questions. Environment Canada: Freshwater website. Retrieved November 9, 2006, from <http://www.ec.gc.ca/water/en/manage/removal/e_FAQ.htm>
• Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada. (2006). The GATS and environment, water, and energy. Trade in Services. Retrieved November 9, 2006, from <http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/tna-nac/ts/faq-environment-en.asp#2>

More papers on Canadian Bulk Water Export:

• Analytical Essay # 130448 : "Canadian Policy and Bulk Water Export"
• Essay # 137542 : "Yes, Canada Really Should Export Water"
• Essay # 40965 : "Water in Canada"

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