Environment committee  Data plays a very important role in responding to these natural disasters or emergencies. We in Newfoundland and Labrador experienced a number of floods, which were not there historically, and we attribute those to climate change. Our real-time data monitoring network, both for water quantity and quality, is a blessing and a lifesaver because we can alert people in advance that “these are the areas that are potentially going to be flooded” and “these areas should be evacuated”.

Environment committee  [Inaudible—Editor] in two categories. One is the infrastructure upgrades or rehabilitation. For that, cost-share programs would be highly beneficial. As I mentioned in my opening remarks, our infrastructure is aging, and we have to invest in that infrastructure. The second is technical guidance on how we can operate and maintain that infrastructure and what tools we can develop, such as flood forecasting models.

Environment committee  Thank you very much. As I mentioned earlier, I think the best role that Canada water agency can play for Newfoundland and Labrador as well as for other jurisdictions is to act as a one-stop shop for all water-related issues and to provide national guidance to deal with emerging water issues in terms of best management practices and standard operating protocols that will apply to various regions of the country as well as to facilitate the management of various ongoing cost-share and work-share programs between federal government and jurisdictions, provincial and territorial governments.

Environment committee  I think our first priority, speaking from a Newfoundland and Labrador perspective, is to address the gaps in data and in monitoring networks, because they provide the basis for whatever work we do, whether we develop policies, best management practices or standard operating protocols.

Environment committee  What we are doing is that, for all infrastructures that are designed now and that come for regulatory approval, we make sure that the climate change lens has been incorporated into the design of those infrastructures. That is the first thing we are doing. As you mentioned, we have learned from experience that the infrastructures designed and built 30 or 40 years ago did not take climate change into consideration.

Environment committee  The cost of converting sea-water into acceptable drinking water is very high. Our focus is to make use of our freshwater resources. But yes, we have been considering the impact, especially, as you said, since 70% of our population lives in coastal areas. With climate change, the sea level is rising.

Environment committee  I think the Canada water agency should focus in those areas where provinces are not working, because provinces have very strong expertise in water management. They are dealing with floods, dam safety, and clean and safe water. The Canada water agency can play the role of an overarching agency to act as a technical resource for the provinces on research and development and innovation, and the development of tools that we can use to transform and convert the data we are collecting into information and knowledge that are of interest to Canadians and that Canadians need on a day-to-day basis.

Environment committee  I think the Canada water agency can play a very important role in rolling out national policy guidance in various areas. That could be water quantity monitoring, water quality monitoring, flood risk mapping or other areas. They can carry multiple heads. They can be a one-stop shop for provinces.

Environment committee  Yes. We have reduced the number of boil-water advisories from 350 to 170. That is substantial progress. We have increased the number of trained operators from 80 to 350, and we are proud of that. We have increased the number of water treatment plants from five to 25, so we have made progress in each and every area.

Environment committee  To your first question on the exchange of data. I think the data is there, and we have a very good system whereby data is collected on a real-time basis and shared on a real-time basis, so that's a very positive step and improvement. As I mentioned earlier, our challenge is that there are gaps in certain parts of the country, especially in northern areas, and those gaps need to be addressed.

Environment committee  The provision of clean and safe drinking water—and our honourable member also asked this question earlier—requires a multibarrier approach. One-size-fits-all does not work. You have to have the concept of multibarrier. This was one of the outcomes of that national committee that was created 20 years ago.

Environment committee  Thank you very much. I think we have to take a step backward. Historically, the federal government has played a strong leadership role in facilitating the monitoring and reporting of water in the country. Providing a centralized repository for all water-related data that is being collected all across the country and using that data to develop policies and guidelines for the governance of water—

Environment committee  —I think are the areas where the Canada water agency can play a very important role.

Environment committee  I think one of the areas where we have seen issues and gaps with climate change is in the gaps in our monitoring network—that is, the water quantity monitoring network, the water quality monitoring network, the groundwater monitoring network and the climate monitoring network, especially in northern areas, where the climate change impact is more pronounced.

Environment committee  If I recall correctly, the thrust of those discussions was on being a water manager involved in day-to-day water management issues in your jurisdiction. What is your experience in your dealings with various federal agencies? What is your opinion on how water should be governed on a long-term basis in Canada to ensure socio-economic benefit for the public as well as public safety?