Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I'd like to thank the committee for undertaking this study and also for the opportunity to meet with you today.
I'm just going to start with a few words about a seven-page submission that you received from the Forum for Leadership on Water—or FLOW—a little while ago.
FLOW is made up of about a dozen volunteers from across Canada who have been collaborating on water policy analysis and advice for over 15 years.
My own background in the water field goes back over 60 years. That's 30 years in the federal government and 30 years in a combination of consulting and volunteering in Canada and in about half a dozen other countries. Over those 60 years, I have observed a lot of major changes both in water issues and in the conventional wisdom about how we should deal with them.
When I first started working in the field, the sole emphasis was on economic development. Around 1970, we had the water pollution crisis and we added an environmental component. By the time the federal water policy was issued in 1987, we were trying to reconcile economic and environmental values through sustainable development concepts. Those three phases are all still work in progress. We're now in the early stages of introducing a variety of rights into the equation. At the same time, we're trying to cope with the very serious implications of a changing climate.
The FLOW submission takes both the evolving issues and the evolving conventional wisdom into account and suggests 15 priority areas that we believe are ripe for significant progress in the coming years. The criteria for setting these priorities are that, first, there is an issue of national significance, and, second, that there is potential to do something about it in the coming years.
As short-term priorities—say, over the next five years—we speak to the Canada water agency, collaboration, Canada-U.S. waters, indigenous drinking water, flood damage reduction, climate change adaptation, water prediction, river basin priorities, water data and water research.
As medium-term priorities—say, over the next 10 years—we speak to legislative renewal, chemicals management, water apportionment and principles for the watershed approach.
Finally, as a long-term priority—say, beyond 10 years and I don't know how far into the future—we foresee evolving social justice principles being incorporated more fulsomely into water management decisions.
I think I'll just leave it at that. I welcome any questions that committee members may have on our submission or on any other topic that you may wish to raise with me.
Thank you.