Abstract
Canada’s provincial, territorial and federal governments face key water policy decisions about the process of water allocation and the outcomes associated with alternative approaches. Water allocation refers to the systems that are used to decide which users are allowed to draw water from which sources, for which purposes, and when. Especially when water resources are under pressure from competing demands, or when water quality is threatened, it is logical to question whether the available water resources are being used in the best way possible. Water allocation policy is a multifaceted and far reaching tool with which governments can influence the structure of the economy and quality of residents’ lives. Water allocation decisions influence numerous uses of surface and groundwater resources, including such non-extractive uses as providing environmental, recreational and aesthetic benefits when some of the water is left in situ. This chapter illustrates a range of specific water policy issues and considerations that relate to water allocation, and provides an overview of current practices in each jurisdiction. A number of challenges are highlighted that will have to be addressed if society is to benefit fully from the potential gains that effective water allocation can deliver.
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Horbulyk, T. (2017). Water Policy in Canada. In: Renzetti, S., Dupont, D. (eds) Water Policy and Governance in Canada. Global Issues in Water Policy, vol 17. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-42806-2_3
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