OTTAWA - Yesterday (Nov. 18), Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing MP Carol Hughes addressed the House of Commons about the urgent need to protect and sustainably manage Canada’s precious freshwater resources.
“Canada is fortunate to have some of the largest and most abundant freshwater resources in the world,” said Hughes.
“However, industrial water use now accounts for over 90 per cent of our total water usage, and with climate change threatening these critical resources, it is vital that we manage our water sources sustainably.”
According to Statistics Canada, industrial use of water continues to increase, with industries consuming 91.2 per cent of Canada’s water supply. Hughes emphasizes that while the Canada Water Agency was recently created to address these concerns, it is crucial that the agency’s efforts focus on keeping a close eye on how climate change and industrial policy is impacting Canada's freshwater resources.
“We must ensure that these resources are preserved, especially when global discussions, such as the comments from the American President-Elect about diverting Canadian water, raise additional concerns,” Hughes noted.
The riding of Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing, home to lakes such as Lake Huron and Lake Superior, as well as numerous rivers and aquifers, is already witnessing the impacts of climate change. Hughes called for urgent action to protect and manage these freshwater systems.
“We must treat this issue with urgency in order to protect and manage this vital resource for generations,” said Hughes.
