In 1999, Alberta’s new Water Act came into force. At that time, it was a forward-thinking piece of legislation that laid the groundwork for responsive water management practices.
At the time, I was a director of the Red Deer Chamber of Commerce and publisher of the Red Deer Express, and I remember the Chamber and other stakeholders in the region were very interested and involved in the completion of the legislation.
The Red Deer River provides the city and the surrounding area with the capacity for economic development and high quality of life. We knew then, as we understand now, there needs to be a thoughtful process for how we share our water with both our up and downstream neighbours in rural communities.
The province recognized the impact the new Water Act might have on rural Alberta. Between 1999 and 2002, the government of Alberta provided an opportunity for operators of small, family farms to apply for a registration of up to 6,250 cubic metres of water they had already put to use.
Those registrations were given a priority ahead of new development and are not transferable.
As the province moves forward with its water allocation management system review, Alberta’s history and principles of the Water Act and Water for Life strategy will guide any potential changes.
We have received reports from stakeholder groups, including the Alberta Water Council, Alberta Water Research Institute, and a panel of water policy experts.
One recommendation was the potential for a water market.
The reports recommended implementing a system that encourages voluntary conservation and allows growth with a limited water supply. According to the advisory groups, that objective is efficiently achieved through a transfer system — similar to what is already in place in the South Saskatchewan River Basin.
It is important to note this is just one option being considered.
Transferring water from one licence holder to another is a form of a market. I have heard concerns about the impact a water market might have, and I have to say, I share your concern.
Water is precious, limited and absolutely necessary for our survival, so it’s natural we would all care passionately about its future availability.
I can assure you that whatever decision is made will follow the Water for Life goals for safe, securing drinking water; healthy aquatic ecosystems; and reliable, quality water supplies for a sustainable economy.
Another common recommendation was the importance of protecting a portion of the water to ensure the health of our ecosystems.
This amount of water would not be available for trade under the transfer system, but would remain in the rivers so our water sources will remain healthy and sustainable for generations to come.
These are only two recommendations of many that the government is considering. There is still a lot to do in the review to update Alberta’s water allocation management system, and we aren’t even half way there.
We need to ensure a renewed system reflects the priorities and values of Albertans, so I encourage you all to participate in upcoming engagement opportunities.
Cal Dallas
Red Deer MP