This Federal Water Policy calls for a radically new attitude toward Canada’s water. Pillars of the new attitude are recognizing real value to water as a resource and openness in decision-making regarding water resources. The Policy is a statement of the federal government’s philosophy and goals for the nation’s freshwater resources and of the proposed ways of achieving them. It recognizes that water is, at present, Canada’s most undervalued and neglected natural resource. The overall objective of federal water policy is to encourage the use of freshwater in an efficient and equitable manner consistent with the social, economic and environmental needs of present and future generations. The water policy sketches broad courses of action that call for federal leadership, but other levels of government, industry and the public have important roles as well. The federal government has identified two main goals with respect to water: To protect and enhance the quality of the water resource and to promote the wise and efficient management and use of water. The first goal means anticipating and preventing the contamination of all Canadian waters by harmful substances, and working to encourage the restoration of those waters that are contaminated. This policy emphasizes the promotion of the “polluter pays” principle, which will re-direct the inevitable costs of pollution reduction to those responsible. As a result, costs are distributed more fairly to the benefit of all Canadians and the environment as a whole. The second goal means establishing new ground rules and procedures that respect the value of water to all sectors of society and to the environment. The key innovation is to recognize the value of the resource - both by promoting the realistic pricing of water used, and by respecting the value of recreational water uses and other similar uses where direct charges are not applicable. As a result, state governments will be able to reduce their water investments and improve the operating efficiency of water systems through better technology and practices. The federal government proposes to use five strategies to reach its stated goals, and will be guided in its actions over the near future by the analysis of a selection of water concerns with implications for the federal government. These Strategies concern water pricing, science leadership, integrated planning, legislation, and public awareness. Furthermore, the Policy lays down specific statements regarding, among other things, management of toxic chemicals, water quality management, groundwater contamination, fish habitat management, provision of municipal water and sewer infrastructure, safe drinking water, water use conflicts, interbasin transfers, water use in irrigation, wetlands reservation, hydroelectric energy development, heritage river preservation, native water rights, boundary and transboundary water management, potential interjurisdictional water conflicts within Canada, droughts and floods, shoreline erosion, climate change, water data and research. The government intends to use these statements in applying the five policy strategies. The range of concerns is not intended to be exhaustive, and the policies will evolve in response to changing conditions. As to integrated planning, the federal government shall, among other things, encourage, on the basis of a watershed, or other appropriate spatial unit, the integration of water management plans and objectives with those of other natural resource interests - fisheries, forestry, wildlife, mining, hydropower, and agriculture - to reflect the unity of natural processes and the interdependence of uses and users in that spatial unit, and encourage and support opportunities for public consultation and participation in the integrated planning. Fish habitat management refers to the Fish Habitat Management Policy of 1985 and requires the federal government to, among other things: develop national guidelines for the achievement of no net loss through incorporating fish waterfront protection requirements into land and water use projects that could affect fish habitat; promote the establishment of national and regional committees, foundations or boards to work cooperatively with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and; undertake monitoring and assessment of fish habitats in support of federal fish habitat management goals and objectives.
加拿大 · 1987-01-01