National Freshwater Strategy Act

An Act respecting the development of a national strategy in relation to freshwater

This bill is from the 42nd Parliament, 1st session, which ended in September 2019.

Sponsor

Tracey Ramsey  NDP

Introduced as a private member’s bill. (These don’t often become law.)

Status

Outside the Order of Precedence (a private member's bill that hasn't yet won the draw that determines which private member's bills can be debated), as of April 9, 2019
(This bill did not become law.)

Summary

This is from the published bill.

This enactment provides for the development of a national strategy in relation to freshwater.

Similar bills

C-217 (current session) National Freshwater Strategy Act
C-245 (43rd Parliament, 2nd session) National Freshwater Strategy Act
C-245 (43rd Parliament, 1st session) National Freshwater Strategy Act

Elsewhere

All sorts of information on this bill is available at LEGISinfo, an excellent resource from Parliament. You can also read the full text of the bill.

Bill numbers are reused for different bills each new session. Perhaps you were looking for one of these other C-439s:

C-439 (2013) Air Passengers' Bill of Rights
C-439 (2012) Air Passengers' Bill of Rights
C-439 (2010) An Act to amend the Hazardous Products Act (products made with dog or cat fur)
C-439 (2009) An Act to amend the Hazardous Products Act (products made with dog or cat fur)

National Freshwater Strategy ActRoutine Proceedings

April 9th, 2019 / 10:10 a.m.

NDP

Tracey Ramsey NDP Essex, ON

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-439, An Act respecting the development of a national strategy in relation to fresh water.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce my private member's bill that calls on the government to commit to a national freshwater strategy. My riding of Essex is surrounded by the beauty of the Great Lakes, which not only supply us with fresh water for drinking but provide all of our communities with environmental benefits that deserve targeted protection and sustainable planning.

Canada needs a modernized national freshwater strategy. It has been over 20 years since the government established a policy on fresh water, and environmental conditions have changed dramatically since 1987. While Canada has seemingly abundant freshwater resources, very little of it is actually renewable.

My bill asks the Minister of Environment and Climate Change to study, review and adopt a national water policy. The review will work to establish national drinking water standards, ensure that water is protected in international agreements, protect groundwater, evaluate the readiness of water and waste-water infrastructure to handle climate change impacts and reduce eutrophication.

Fresh water is vital, whether for tourism, agriculture, recreational use, health or household needs. It plays an important role in all of our communities. Essex is surrounded by the majesty of Lake Erie and Lake St. Clair, along with our many rivers, wetlands and tributaries. The health of our water is instrumental to our region's sustained growth, environmental stability and safety.

I hope that all sides will support this important effort to protect our fresh water for generations to come.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)