The Alberta Water Authority: Should the idea sink or swim?

Last month the Report of the Premier’s Council for Economic Strategy Shaping Alberta’s Future outlined five “big” ideas to further provincial economic diversification and growth.   One of them is to create the Alberta Water Authority to “innovate in water stewardship, and realize the full benefit of our precious water assets”.   As with any such entity, the devil is in the details.  What else does the report say about the Authority?

The report characterizes the “first-in-time, first-in-right” (FITFIR) system as “out of sync with changing economic and demographic patterns”  and as lacking in flexibility to “respond to changing demand”.   (The FITFIR system operates to ensure that a senior (or historic) water user gets all their water pursuant to their licence prior to a junior or  more recent licence holder; a significant problem in times of water shortage.)

Read “The Alberta Water Authority: Should the idea sink or swim?” on the ELC blog.

ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL LAW CENTRE:

The Environmental Law Centre (ELC) has been seeking strong and effective environmental laws since it was founded in 1982. The ELC is dedicated to providing credible, comprehensive and objective legal information regarding natural resources, energy and environmental law, policy and regulation in Alberta. The ELC’s mission is to educate and champion for strong laws and rights so all Albertans can enjoy clean water, clean air and a healthy environment. Our vision is a society where laws secure an environment that sustains current and future generations.

As a charity, the Environmental Law Centre depends on your financial support. Help us to continue to educate and champion for strong environmental laws, through tools such as our blog and all of our other resources, so that all Albertans can enjoy a healthy environment. Your support makes a difference.
Donate online today