WSP Media Highlights - 2010
A book review by Dr. Paehlke of "Making the Most of What We Have" was released in the December, 2010 issue of Critical Policy Studies Journal.
From the energy used to bring water to the tap to the water required for fossil fuel extraction, the water-energy nexus comes full circle in this article by POLIS' Carol Maas. Published in the December 2010 Water issue of Alternatives Journal.
Access to fresh water is quickly becoming one of the world's most critical concerns. This fact is perhaps not much acknowledged in water-rich Canada or on its wet West Coast. However, a recently McAllister Opinion Research public opinion poll commissioned by the Vancouver Foundation and WWF-Canada confirms that, as a whole, British Columbians understand the coming water challenges.
In the Vancouver Sun op-ed "B.C. needs to get water rules right," POLIS' Oliver M. Brandes and Rod Dobell discuss the results of this major survey.
PDF files of the op-ed and a summary of the poll results can be downloaded below.
Carol Maas and Matt Binstock discuss the benefits of Ontario's new Water Opportunities Act in the September/October issue of Water Canada.
WSP team member Liz Hendriks examines the opportunity for implementing the public trust doctrine in BC with the Government's interest in modernizing the outdated Water Act.
In October, POLIS team members Susanne Porter-Bopp, Elizabeth Hendriks traveled to Banff, Alberta and helped facilitate the 2010 Canadian Water Innovation Lab along with 46 others. WSP Project Leader Oliver Brandes attended as a resource guest discussing the future of water infrastructure across Canada and the emerging trends, opportunities and challenges facing water governance in British Columbia.
Hosted by Waterlution – A Water Learning Experience, the event attracted more than 200 Canadian youth committed to learning and constructing a dialogue surrounding the many challenges and opportunities facing Canadians around water. The event allowed attendees to freely interact with experts and through field tours develop an understanding of complex water issues in Canada. The facilitators found that the friendly, informal “retreat-style” format excelled at driving attendees to challenge each other and critically delve into complicated issues – a valuable educational opportunity for all involved.
Our recent report on water conservation-based pricing gets national attention in the September/October 2010 edition of Water Canada!
Check out a new review for "Making the Most of the Water We Have" found in the May, 2010 issue of Water International.
WSP Community Water Coordinator Susanne Porter-Bopp was interviewed by British Columbia MLA Michelle Mungall on the topic of urban water issues in Canada as part of the "Women & Water" radio series at the BC Legislature.
Spring is supposed to be time of renewal, of optimism and joy at the prospects of hot summer days ahead. Instead, here in British Columbia, Environment Minister Barry Penner is warning us that insufficient snow pack and a dry spring may be conspiring to create potentially serious water shortages for some communities. This is a dire situation indeed and perhaps a time to take a serious look at what it will take to begin balancing our water budget and how we price this most precious of resources. Read the full op-ed here.
Project leader Oliver M. Brandes chats with Jo-Ann Roberts about the myth of water abundance and the need for Canadians to focus on Conservation-Oriented Water Pricing. Click here to hear the podcast.
WSP Project Leader Oliver Brandes was featured in an interview on the state of Canada's water on CTV's Business News Network on World Water Day - March 22, 2010.
POLIS' Water-Energy work was featured in Alternatives' New Energy Issue.
This document answers the call of the Premier of British Columbia for citizens to become part of the solution for securing our water future. It outlines key minimum steps critical to protecting this precious resource. This statement of expectations was developed through study and consultation, and the undersigned groups urge the BC government to take swift and decisive action on the issues described below.
