Canada in dire need of revised water policies: Usask experts say

Water experts from across the country gathered in the nation’s capital for a forum on water security to discuss solutions to make communities and industries more resilient and less vulnerable to climate change.

Those in attendance, including Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Ralph Goodale and University of Saskatchewan President Peter Stoicheff, addressed the scientific evidence of worsening water sustainability, climate-related water crises, and the science and policy solutions needed to address these issues that include suggested changes to the Canada Water Act.

The forum comes on the heels of a recent report by Environment and Climate Change Canada that states the country is warming twice as fast as the global average and three times as fast in the North, with prediction for more extreme weather events, floods, drought, and forest fires.

John Pomeroy, director of the Usask-led Global Water Futures(gwf) program, emphasized that Canada’s current policies on water could vastly improve.

“Canadians can no longer be assured our waters are abundant, safe and secure,” said Pomeroy. “Global temperatures continue to increase, glaciers melt, permafrost thaws, river flows become unpredictable, and lakes warm and fill with toxic algae, so science is telling us that these changes are going to increasingly affect everyone and the time to do something about this is now.”

Pomeroy said the impacts of these rapid changes in water availability and quality are dangerous and expensive, with skyrocketing costs of floods and droughts for families, towns and cities, the insurance sector, businesses, and ultimately the federal government.

He does believe there are solutions, and points to four key areas where change could be made:

- centralizing water information, prediction and decisionsupport services through the creation of a Canada Water Security Centre;

- strengthening transboundary water management that includes both provincial and international borders;

- strengthening reconciliation with Indigenous peoples and ensuring the Canada Water Act is consistent with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples;

- improving collaborative river basin planning with provinces, territories, and Indigenous communities.

“It’s important that we have these conversations across the country, especially here in Ottawa,” said Pomeroy. “But it’s even more important that we act.”

The research is spearheaded by Global Water Futures, the world’s largest university-led freshwater research program. GWF is led by the University of Saskatchewan, in partnership with the University of Waterloo, Mcmaster University, and Wilfrid Laurier University.

The event was co-hosted by the Forum for Leadership on Water, Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources, POLIS Program on Ecological Governance, and the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health. Editor:

As a child we have been taught to stand up for those without a voice, whether it be from bullying or the situation that someone is in. I am frustrated when it comes to those in charge of Long Term Care, not only in Swift Current, but throughout Saskatchewan; I feel like I have hit a brick wall.

I recently received a response from our Health Minister about my concerns on staffing, and to my disappointment he says, “…the Ministry of Health provides global funding to the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) for the delivery of health programs and services. Through this funding, the SHA is responsible for the distribution and mix of health care services and staffing needs across the province.” If they are the ones to give the money, then they haven’t given enough. The letter goes on to tell me whom to contact, (which I have already done).

Last time I contacted Quality of Care Coordinator (on another matter), their response was, “This is to confirm that we have received your concern and have forwarded it on for investigation.” To which I haven’t heard anything more about, whereas this time it isn’t just about the quality of care, it is about the quantity.

I also contacted the facility manager about the situation and this person told me, “change is good,” So far the change hasn’t been good.

I also sent two letters to the CEO of the SHA, their response after the second letter was, “We will circle back to you once this new letter has been reviewed.” To date I have not received a response to either letter.

What can “we” as ordinary citizens of Saskatchewan/swift Current do when those in charge don’t appear to want to change anything to help our senior citizens, (who don’t have a voice), when it comes to the staff shortages? Do they deserve to have their baths postponed, sit in soiled undergarments, or lay on the floor until help is able to get to them? Do the health care providers deserve to be run off their feet with the unrealistic duties placed on them because the Health Minister just provides the funding, SHA is circling back to look into it, and that change is good?

A solution could be to hire at $185.36 per eight hour shift another CCA (plus benefits). For this small amount of funds another CCA could be hired for each house that is short staffed in Swift Current. For this small amount, the residents could have the care/safety they deserve. For this small amount the health care providers could have a chance at fulfilling some of their many duties. Please Swift Current/saskatchewan citizens, do the right thing and give a voice for those who no longer have one.

Heather Fisher - Swift Current