Open Letter: Freshwater in Canada is not for sale

April 23, 2025

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• Climate Change
• Wildwater

85 groups call on federal parties and candidates to prioritize freshwater security and health in Canada

April 22, 2025

To federal parties and candidates of the 2025 elections

The protection of freshwater in Canada is non-negotiable

Freshwater in Canada is priceless. Defending its future and maintaining its health must be a top priority.

President Trump is threatening to tear up water agreements, which are intended to safeguard 80% of North America’s freshwater.

In parallel, The U.S. administration is dismantling the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). This weakening and removal of environmental initiatives and legislation would harm shared ecosystems, while likely benefiting extractive industries and corporations.

Aquatic ecosystems and transboundary waters are not faucets to be turned on and off, diverting large amounts of water out of entire watersheds. We will continue to see growing and severe water constraints on the nation’s freshwater resources.

We, the undersigned, demand that each political party and candidate commit to protect and defend the integrity of watersheds in Canada, their ecosystems and all agreements
that protect them.

1. 1. 1. Enforce and strengthen policies that protect freshwater, including The International Boundary Waters Treaty Act and The Great Lakes Water Quality
         Agreement, the Columbia River Treaty and all Canadian legislation that protects water;
      2. Prevent water privatization and bulk export of water and ensure Indigenous sovereignty is respected and upheld;
      3. Invest in freshwater research, restoration and health;
      4. Respect Indigenous nations’ sovereignty and water rights, including inherent, treaty, and legislative rights which extend to the shared governance and protection of healthy water resources.

Canadian leaders alongside sovereign Indigenous nations and leadership are stewards of these lands and waters.

Together we must ensure the waters that flow from coast to coast to coast are healthy, sustainable, and resilient for future generations.

Freshwater in Canada is not for sale.

Signatories:
350 Canada
Action environnement Basses Laurentides
Alberta Wilderness Association
AREQ (CSQ)
Association Lac Laurel
Association pour la protection du lac Labrecque
Association pour la santé publique du Québec
Association Québécoise de Lutte contre la Pollution Atmosphérique (AQLPA)
Ateliers pour la biodiversité
Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE)
Canadian Health Assoc for Sustainability and Equity (CHASE)
Canadian Interfaith Fast For the Climate
Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE)
Centrale des syndicats démocratiques (CSD)
Centre d’interprétation de l’eau de Laval
Change On The Ground Projects
The ChariTree Foundation
Clayoquot Action
Climate Caucus
Coalition pour une navigation responsable et durable
Comité de concertation et de valorisation du bassin de la rivière Richelieu
(COVABAR)
Conseil central du Montréal métropolitain – CSN
Conseil des bassins versants des Mille Îles
The Council of Canadians
Crooked Creek Conservancy Society of AthabascaA
Cyclo Nord-Sud
Delta N-90 Trappers
Dragonfly Ventures
Earthroots
Eau Secours
Environment Hamilton
Environment North
Environmental Defence
ENvironnement JEUnesse
Fédération interprofessionnelle de la santé du Québec (FIQ)
Fondation Rivières
For Our Kids Alberta
Foresight Canada
Front commun québécois pour une gestion écologique des déchets
Greenpeace Canada
Groupe d’éducation et d’écosurveillance de l’eau
Groupe de recommandations et d’actions pour un meilleur environnement
(GRAME)
Healthy Waters Lac La Biche
Indigenous Climate Action
Keepers of the Water
Kootenay Lakes Seniors for Climate
L’Assomption en transition
Land Lovers Network
Les AmiEs de la Terre de Québec
Living Lakes Canada
Madhu Verma Migrant Justice Centre
Mères au front
Mouvement d’éducation populaire et d’action communautaire du Québec
(MÉPACQ)
Nature Canada
Niisitappi Water Protectors
Northern Confluence Initiative
Office de la pastorale sociale – Église catholique de Montréal
The Ontario Headwaters Institute
Organisme de bassin versant de la Yamaska
Organisme de bassin versant du fleuve Saint-Jean
Organisme de bassins versants de Kamouraska, L’Islet et Rivière-du-Loup
(OBAKIR)
Organisme des bassins versants du Nord-Est du Bas-Saint-Laurent
Ottawa Riverkeeper | Garde-rivière des Outaouais
Réalité Climatique Canada
Regroupement des organismes de bassins versants du Québec
Regroupement national des conseils régionaux de l’environnement du Québec
(RNCREQ)
Regroupement Vigilance Énergie Québec
Réseau de milieux naturels protégés
Réseau québécois des groupes écologistes (RQGE)
Sagamok Anishnawbek First Nation
Seniors for Climate Action Now!
Shapiro & Company
Sierra Club Canada
The Society of High Prairie Regional Environmental Action Committee
Southern Alberta Group for the Environment (SAGE)
StopLine5
Syndicat de la fonction publique et parapublique du Québec (SFPQ)
TerraVie
Travailleuses et travailleurs pour la justice climatique
Vigilance OGM
Vivre en Ville
Water Watchers
Wildsight, Conservation Director
ZIP des Seigneuries
Zone Bayonne

 

View a PDF version of the letter here.