Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today in the House to address Motion No. 249, introduced by the member for Lac-Saint-Louis.
We all know that water is perhaps one of the most valuable natural resources. It is essential to life. It is critical to the health and well-being of Canadians. It is critical to aquatic systems.
It is also vital for economic prosperity across sectors such as agriculture, oil, gas and shipping. That is why it is also important to this government's environmental agenda, which includes conservation of species and spaces, clean air and climate change.
In dealing with one of our most precious resources, Motion No. 249 calls on the federal government to immediately develop, in consultation with the provinces, territories, aboriginal groups, municipalities, local community organizations and others, an integrated water resources management strategy.
The main focus of this motion is to advance the concept of integrated water resources management to measure, monitor and protect freshwater.
After examining this motion and its implications, the point that I would like to address is that much of the spirit and substance of this motion is already being implemented by the federal government.
For example, integrated water resources management is a water management approach that advocates decision making based on engaging stakeholders and incorporating ecological, social and economic considerations.
As well, the global water partnership sponsored by the United Nations development program advocates an integrated water resources management based on principles of openness, transparency, inclusion of stakeholders, accountability, responsiveness, efficiency and equality.
These are principles that Canada is already using to help guide integrated water resources management approaches here in Canada.
As a matter of fact, Canada has been taking an integrated water resources management approach for many years. We have already adjusted our thinking. We have created new tools for the job. We have put these tools to work in a wide range of integrated water resources management initiatives across Canada.
Integration is happening at many levels. Our work on water is bringing together provincial and territorial governments, aboriginal peoples and stakeholders, municipalities, industry, energy, agriculture, non-governmental organizations, community groups and research teams.
This government is also working toward effective planning and decision making on water management through partnerships.
The fact is that collaborative water management is a cornerstone of integrated watershed management. This means that stakeholders need to be actively involved in water management decisions.
We are continuing our work to put in place inclusive and transparent coordination mechanisms that will allow us to widen the application of this broad principle.
In fact, if we look at the 1987 federal water policy that was passed by former prime minister Brian Mulroney's Conservative government, we will see that this policy calls for integrated water management planning. It also calls on the federal government to achieve this through its programs, policies and laws.
So for 20 years we have had a federal water policy that is already consistent with integrated water resources management, and all the actions proposed in Motion No. 249 have already been captured in the policy's five strategies.
As well, the federal water policy is a statement of our government's goals for Canada's freshwater resources. Today, this government is on track toward achieving those goals. This year alone, we announced $4.5 billion in new spending on the environment.
This includes the national water strategy, where we have invested $35 million on freshwater initiatives: $11 million over two years for cleaning up Great Lakes areas of concern; $5 million over two years for the International Joint Commission to study Great Lakes water levels; $12 million over two years to support the cleanup of Lake Simcoe; and $7 million over two years for the cleanup of Lake Winnipeg.
Our national water strategy also supports healthy oceans by investing $382 million for conservation and protection of fisheries and ocean habitats.
Budget 2007 also includes a long term infrastructure plan that will help support investments by provinces, territories and municipalities to improve water and waste water infrastructure, including treatment facilities, sewage collection and water distribution.
Our government will be pursuing these budget initiatives in an open and consultative manner.
As for the federal, provincial and territorial jurisdictions, this government recognizes their responsibilities with respect to water delivery. We consistently favour a collaborative approach that is respectful of the roles and responsibilities of each order of government.
Fortunately, the provinces and territories also recognize the need for collaboration and an integrated approach to water management.
Our mutual understanding of the need for collaboration is important, because the reality is that the provincial and territorial governments are responsible for many aspects of land use planning and development that impact water quality and availability. Many provinces are demonstrating their commitment to this approach by introducing new policies and legislation that moves toward integrated collaborative approaches.
For example, the province of Alberta's new water for life strategy introduces a transition from traditional water management planning for water allocation issues to integrated watershed management planning supported by a shared governance model.
Ontario is moving forward with a comprehensive approach to protecting sources of drinking water.
The Quebec water policy is based on full integration of the different aspects of water management by adopting an integrated watershed management approach relying on citizen involvement, integrated management of the St. Lawrence River and recognition of water as an integral part of the collective heritage of the citizens of Quebec.
There is no doubt that many Canadian jurisdictions are using integrated water resources management to guide their central water management approach. Considerable progress is being made in many areas and we expect this trend of policy and legislative reform to continue as jurisdictions come more fully to terms with the need to manage their water resources for economic, social and environmental reasons.
Federal, provincial and territorial governments are also cooperating on the national collection of water quality information through national agreements on water quality and quantity monitoring. There is movement toward integrated management with better data and information and an emphasis on clear and transparent goals and results.
As well, where water management issues are a shared federal, provincial and territorial interest, the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment also provides a formal mechanism for effective intergovernmental discussion and coordinated approaches to regional and national environmental issues, including water management.
The council also recently introduced national initiatives to promote drinking water protection from source to tap and options for a Canada wide strategy for managing municipal waste water effluent.
Regional cooperation in water management is also achieved through bodies such as the Prairie Provinces Water Board and the Mackenzie River Basin Board. These boards ensure that interprovincial surface waters and groundwaters are equally shared by Canada's prairie provinces and they help to prevent potential conflicts.
When we look at all of these initiatives that are taking place, we can see there is no doubt that ensuring clean and safe water for Canadians is a joint undertaking that is being taken very seriously by municipal, provincial and federal governments.
It is clear that this government is committed to collaborative, integrated management of water in partnership with these orders of government.