Environment committee  —through a subsurface drip so they're not overutilizing water. We're seeing producers investing in those technologies.

Environment committee  I go back to my opening comments where I've commented that with irrigation we're producing more food on the same land mass. There are going to be lower emissions. I'd also comment that we're seeing producers already adopt technology not only in dryland farming but on irrigation, where they're making sure that they're only putting the right amount of water when needed—

Environment committee  I would just add that I think it's that constant communication and making sure we're working with our neighbours. I know we have a good working relationship with our two neighbouring provinces. We have a memorandum of understanding with Manitoba on water management issues. We work closely with the Government of Alberta on issues as well.

Environment committee  I would have to follow up as well, because that was 20 years ago. I wasn't there.

Environment committee  Thank you for the question. I think it's very much along the lines of what I mentioned earlier. We have those relationships with the communities, the industry and the stakeholders in our province. As I said earlier, we're the agency that regulates all aspects of water: drinking water, waste water and licensing.

Environment committee  Thank you for the question. That is exactly what the Water Security Agency is. It brings almost everything—all the water-related activities in the province—under one umbrella. We're responsible for the regulation, the licensing, the monitoring and the testing, all of those aspects.

Environment committee  Right now, our agency is also responsible. We sit on the different jurisdictional water boards and the Prairie Provinces Water Board. We have membership on the international boards and commissions as well. Again, our agency is representing our province in making sure that we're monitoring the waters that flow into Saskatchewan and making sure that we flow out our 50% share to Manitoba and to the United States or into Alberta and the northern watershed.

Environment committee  Like you said, we've had some initial meetings, two or three, but we don't really have a clear understanding of exactly how it's going to be working. We've had some conversations. They talk about a funding partner and they talk about research, but we haven't had a clear understanding of what the agency is going to do.

Environment committee  Those are some of the things that we've thought about as well with the creation of the Canada water agency. Is there a way that you could have everything to do with water centrally located within the federal system to make it easier for not only provinces to navigate but citizens?

Environment committee  I'm sorry. Can you just repeat the question?

Environment committee  Thank you for the question. What our agency is responsible for is the management of water. We have a Ministry of Environment as well. You're absolutely right. Water is important not only for agriculture but also for humans, for industry and for recreation. What I would say is that how we're adapting to the changing weather patterns is in how we operate the structures that we have.

Environment committee  We recognize that there are changing weather patterns. That's why, when we have a project or are engaged with some of these structures—like I said, we have 74 dams across our province—we make sure we manage it to have ample supplies of water for times when there isn't enough moisture out there.

Environment committee  We've had some meetings with the federal government over that as they've been navigating setting up the agency, and we've been communicating some of our concerns. In fact, later this week, I will have another meeting with Environment Canada on that as well.

Environment committee  Yes. I've explained some of what we see as the benefits of the Lake Diefenbaker irrigation project. It's a generational project. It's going to be there for decades. There's also a significant benefit from that project for the federal government and for the province. That's why we believe there is room for a federal partner in building out this project.

Environment committee  Yes. I'll maybe get David to jump in here as well. We look for opportunities and the expansion of irrigation in other parts of the province, not just around Lake Diefenbaker, so there are opportunities for funding. I know our neighbours to the west in Alberta have also expanded their irrigation as well.