Changing Currents – Message from the President and CEO
Message from the President and CEO
Water is essential for the operation and growth of Canada’s natural resource sectors.
And as world-wide demand for our country’s bounty of minerals, forest products, agricultural goods and energy continues to grow, so will the need for water.
This report, Changing Currents, is the first of two reports that will examine the importance of water use by our natural resource sectors. It sets out the NRTEE’s findings for further study to protect this important resource and the natural ecosystems it supports.
New stresses and demands are likely to pose a significant challenge to the sustainability of Canada’s water resources if action is not taken now.
Water underpins our economy – whether it is used for raising crops, developing the oil sands, or producing the forest products that build our homes. We must ensure that it is protected from overuse. We need to understand the future impacts on water quantity of issues like climate change, energy use and governance.
To ensure that it continues to play these roles, we need to get a better handle on how much water we use, who governs it and manages its allocation, and how much of it will be needed.
Knowing how water is used by our critical national resource sectors and how it is managed across Canada is our first step to ensuring a truly sustainable resource for Canadians.
David McLaughlin
NRTEE President and CEO
© 2013