WHO ****ING CARES ABOUT THE FARMERS? I DON'T THINK ALBERTA GIVES A ****
ABOUT THEM.
About 75 per cent of that is used by agriculture for irrigation and
intensive livestock operations.
The oil industry also uses considerable amounts, she said. Deep well
injections require large volumes of water with much of it being lost
from the water cycle or returned in an undrinkable condition. Six
barrels of freshwater are used for every barrel of oil recovered from
the ground, said Howatt.
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Ban urged on sale of Canada's water
Karen Brownlee, The Leader-Post
Published: Thursday, April 27, 2006 Article tools
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Font: * * * * Water can not be for sale if Canadians want to ensure
affordable access to quality drinking water, said the Council of
Canadians water campaigner during a stop in Regina on a speaking tour.
There is a limited amount of freshwater for our use in Canada, Susan
Howatt told the dozen people gathered at the Cathedral Neighbourhood
Centre Wednesday to hear her speak.
She is traveling across Saskatchewan and Alberta to drive up sup****t
for a national water policy that enshrines access to freshwater as a
human right. National drinking water standards need to be established
as does a funding strategy so municipalities can continue to provide
water, she said.
Howatt admits she doesn't know the details of the Saskatchewan
government's work on water conservation and safe drinking water
standards. "I know enough to say it's a good start."
"But it's tragic to have to wait for a crisis to implement a safe
drinking-water strategy," she said, referring to North Battleford's
cryptos****idium outbreak in 2001.
Because there is a finite supply of water, cor****ations recognize they
can make a profit off the demand for this necessity. Partnering with
municipal governments to provide drinking water is one way companies
are looking to make money, said Howatt.
"Selling our water is shortsighted. It is a terrible gamble we can't
let our politicians consider," said Howatt, saying it will "kill"
future generations as well as the agriculture industry and communities.
To protect this finite resource, the municipal, provincial and federal
levels of government must contribute to a national water policy.
Without such a policy, we leave ourselves open to other countries as
well as cor****ations taking our water, said Howatt.
She explained what happened in Cochabamba, Bolivia when a private
company took over the distribution of drinking water. Rates rose higher
than many families could afford so their water was shut off.
Demonstrations eventually caused the company to pull out of the
community. Those who organized the protests were later elected to
government. "Bolivia is a model of the power of people," she said.
Canadians are very concerned about their water. It was the second most
common issue citizens wrote to the prime minister's office about last
year, said Howatt.
"The Prairies are the canary for the rest of Canada" when it comes to
our freshwater management, said Howatt. Seventy per cent of all water
in Canada is used by the Prairies, said Howatt.
About 75 per cent of that is used by agriculture for irrigation and
intensive livestock operations.
The oil industry also uses considerable amounts, she said. Deep well
injections require large volumes of water with much of it being lost
from the water cycle or returned in an undrinkable condition. Six
barrels of freshwater are used for every barrel of oil recovered from
the ground, said Howatt.
Increased human activity coupled with global warming are contributing
to the development of drought conditions. A situation far worse than
that seen during the Dirty Thirties is predicted by well-respected
Canadian water researcher Dr. David Schindler, said Howatt.
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