On March 22, the federal government announced it would develop such a strategy, calling it “an opportunity to discuss how we can address freshwater-related threats and opportunities,” protect freshwater ecosystems, and secure water for communities and the economy, according to a news release.

The Canada Water Agency, which was repurposed in 2024 as a stand-alone freshwater management agency separate from Environment and Climate Change Canada, will spearhead the strategy’s development.

While the announcement was scant on details of what such a strategy might look like, it said the agency will work with provinces and territories, First Nations, Inuit and Métis partners, “stakeholders across sectors” and the public.

Farmers should be among those consulted, the CFA said in a statement to Glacier FarmMedia.

“Water security is absolutely critical for the future of Canadian farmers. Farmers in different regions of Canada have been devastated by water issues over the past few years, such as the floods in B.C., or the ongoing long-term drought in the Prairie provinces,” a federation spokesperson said.

“A lack of water has severe negative impacts on any type of farm, no matter what they grow or raise.”

Prioritizing food security, agriculture

The strategy should protect farmers and mitigate the effects of water-related events. It should also secure predictable access to water so farmers can maintain food production — for example, through effective water management policies and investment in water infrastructure, CFA said.

“Farmers need to make it clear that food security and agriculture production should be prioritized if there was any issues with access to water.”

“Farmers are also on the front-line of climate change, dealing with the on-ground realities of water-related events,” CFA added. “They have experience and knowledge that will be critical in developing this strategy.”

While the announcement made no specific mention of the agriculture industry, the sector will have an opportunity to share its views during the public engagement process, “recognizing that freshwater is fundamental to our economy, powering industries, agriculture, and the growth of communities,” a federal spokesperson told Glacier FarmMedia.

The federal government has not yet set timelines for consultations, but said those will be announced “in the coming months.”

The post Get farmers in on federal water security strategy planning, CFA says appeared first on Canadian Cattlemen.

“Fresh water has been facing challenges – challenges that are intensifying in large part due to climate change,” Guilbeault said at The Forks, where he announced the official launch of the Canada Water Agency (CWA) as a standalone federal entity.

The Canada Water Agency (CWA) will be headquartered in Winnipeg. The agency will work to advance Canada’s Freshwater Action Plan, which, according to Environment Canada’s website, was funded in the 2017 federal budget. This includes improving freshwater management through efforts to improved the water quality of Lake Winnipeg and other waterways throughout Canada.

The agency was formed via a bill in June and is funded with $85.1 million set aside in the 2023 federal budget.

This funding included $70.5 million allocated to the Great Lakes Protection Initiative and the Lake Winnipeg Basin Program (LWBP) over five years, from fiscal years 2017–2018 and 2021–2022.

Of this amount, $25.76 million was designated for the LWBP to advance initiatives focused on three key pillars: nutrient reduction to minimize effects like toxic and nuisance algae; collaborative governance; and collaboration with Indigenous groups.

The federal government also pledged $650 million to enable the Canada Water Agency to offer grants supporting projects focused on restoring and protecting water resources.

While Guilbeault acknowledged that fixing and protecting Canada’s water systems can’t be done alone and that the federal government will need to rely on its partners, he didn’t mention agricultural organizations.

The federal government didn’t immediately respond to questions about collaboration with agriculture groups.

The post New Canada Water Agency to tackle water pollution and protect natural resources appeared first on Canadian Cattlemen.