Should Canada sell its own water to other countries?

Answer 1

"We're beginning to understand that our water resources are not unlimited. We've lived for generations with the myth of limitless water abundance and gradually, I think, that particular myth is being eroded." Sandford, who chairs the Canadian Partnership Initiative of the UN Water for Life Decade, thinks that myth comes from misconceptions Canadians have about water. While Canada holds 20 per cent of the world's fresh water supply, it holds only 6.5 per cent of the world's renewable fresh water, and much of it is up North, far away from big cities. Randy Christensen, a spokesman for Ecojustice Canada, an environmental advocacy group, said the government needs to play a significant role in rectifying the situation. Public education, incentives for eco-friendly appliances, more rigorous industry regulations and fixing leaky city pipes are all ways the government can help. "It is possible to use less water and not have it affect our quality of life," Christensen said. Christensen noted that, although Canada is making some strides, they are in areas where water use has already peaked, and a strain on the environment has already occurred. "The environment suffers first, before humans," he said.

Answer 2

Sell and divert is very different but here are some reasons:

The USA is 10X the population of Canada. If we gave them access they would use the majority of our water.

If we sold water in those quantifies it would drive up the cost of our water.

Diversion projects have massive environmental costs that would have to be paid or endured by Canada more so than the USA.

Canada has the worlds largest supply of fresh water, it is part of the National identity and the last large natural resource still in Canadian hands. Selling it will have a negative impact on the idea of Canada and show Canadians that everything is for sale. If we sold water there would be no limits, we could sell anything maybe even cultural icons like the RCMP, Hockey or Tim Horton's.

Once we start to export water we would not be allowed to stop exports even if Canada was running dry, which is not out of the question given the size of the USA and how they currently handle water.

Canada does not have as much water as it appears. Only a small percentage is renewable and most of that flows north away from our population centres. We do not have a surplus and some areas already have water issues that would only be worst if we exported large amounts of water.

Exporting such a resource in bulk does not benefit Canada. Better to export products that need large amounts of water, such as food and beverages.

It is also the last valuable resource we have that the USA wants and doesn't have. It is the last major bargaining chip for Canada to get better representation in the system that controls us and already owns most of our resources. Sell it an we lose any chance to get better representation or to become a truly independent Nation standing on our own, politically, militarily and culturally.

Answer 3

no because they will need it for future use