It just might unless you ACT NOW and demand the Government of Alberta protect our water for Alberta families, for future generations and for the land. (see postcard to download and send in below!)

Alberta is on the brink of a serious water crisis and, as it becomes increasingly scarce, the provincial government is developing new laws to determine who will get access to this vital resource

In addition to record low water flows in all seven of our river basins, Alberta has many water woes that need to be dealt with. Our water worries span the many concerns of toxic contamination and drought, to overallocation and population growth, to boiled water advisories and even tap water that you can light on fire.

As residents of Alberta, we will be directly impacted by new water legislation, especially if the province follows through on plans to move to a market based system of water management, where the highest bidder gets increased access to this essential human, and planetary, right. This means access to water will be driven by profit and not the needs of people or planet.

In Alberta, the highest bidder is not your average hard working Albertan family. When it comes to water markets, it is hard for people or the land to compete with the buying power, insatiable appetite, and unfair political influence of those with the largest wallets.

We need a change in how we use and protect this precious resource, but water markets are not the answer!

The time is NOW to ensure that new water laws are created justly to protect this priceless resource and human right - which gives us everything from lush wildlands, fertile farms, warm showers and more!

We need YOU to contact Alberta’s Premier and your MLA today! Feel free to download the postcard below and mail it in and/or call the Environment Minister at  make your voice heard!

Water rights in Alberta are currently distributed on a first come, first served basis.  Alberta’s water law upholds a water allocation system governed by a first in time, first in right principle – essentially meaning the older your business or community the more entitled you are to access water in a time of shortage. It doesn’t matter if your business is tar sands or potatoe farming, or if your community is building more golf courses or providing needed homes for a growing population. With looming water shortages and overallocation, the government knows that they need to change this system, but is turning to market mechanisms for the solution.

Alberta currently has Canada’s first water market-place and they are looking to expand and could deregulate. 

The South Saskatchewan River Basin already has a water market system in place, however it is highly regulated by mandates within the Water Act. A deregulated water market creates an unaccountable system, which would limit public oversight and involvement in trades. Any market-based system allows water license holders the right to make a profit off of trading parts, or all, of their water license to other users. (Note that this is something they historically received for free!)

Advocates argue a water market will allocate water to its highest value use. However this means water will go to where is the most profitable, not to where it is needed the most.  This means prioritizing economic interests over our ecosystems, communities and future generations.

Threats to expand and deregulate this market with new water law directly impacts on treaty responsibilities, environmental protection and community accountability, and transparency.  This move will threaten water security for our ecosystem health, for food production, for municipalities, and for YOU!  A fully deregulated market will give water to the highest bidder  - which could leave the majority of us high and dry!

For more information please contact Sheila at the Sierra Club Prairie Chapter.

E-mail sheila@sierraclub.ca or call 780.439.1160