Lake Winnipeg

In 2018, the Manitoba Climate and Green Plan Act established an Expert Advisory Council to provide advice and recommendations to the Minister of Conservation and Climate. In August, this council solicited stakeholder input on a provincial water management strategy for Manitoba.

Our submission advocates for a science-based, outcome-focused strategy to effectively translate policy into meaningful practice to safeguard our shared waters. Such a strategy must be supported by robust evidence, include measurable targets and defined timelines for action, and strengthen monitoring and reporting...

Update: The deadline for public feedback on the IJC’s proposed nutrient loading targets and concentration objectives has been extended until March 28, 2020.

The International Joint Commission (IJC) works to prevent and resolve transboundary water disputes, investigating issues and recommending solutions to the governments of Canada and the United States. Guided by the Boundary Waters Treaty, which was signed in 1909, it was established in recognition that each country is affected by the other’s actions in lake and river systems along the border.

The IJC is currently soliciting public feedback...

In December, shortly after shuffling his cabinet, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued mandate letters to all federal ministers. Continuing a practice started by Trudeau in 2015, these letters have been released publicly and are available on the Office of the Prime Minister’s website.

Mandate letters outline the Prime Minister's expectations for each minister, including specific policy objectives which each minister is expected to accomplish.

The health of Lake Winnipeg is both a national priority and a cross-cutting file. Achieving meaningful positive change will require attention and...

Update: We reached out via email to Canada’s four main federal parties, asking them if they agree to these three commitments. (Note, we did not share the additional context provided here but we did share the links.)

• The Conservative Party of Canada did not send us a response.
• The Green Party of Canada sent us this response.
• The Liberal Party of Canada sent us this response.
• The New Democratic Party of Canada sent us this response.

Water connects us all. It is essential to life on our shared planet. It flows across our shared landscape – and its health is our shared responsibility.

Canada’s...