Water Institute Executive Director Roy Brouwer testifying before House of Commons
Dr. Roy Brouwer, Water Institute Executive Director, Professor and University Research Chair in Water Resources Economics, will be testifying April 18th before the House of Commons’ Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development as part of a panel of witnesses called to share their views on the state of freshwater in Canada.
Brouwer will be speaking to members of the committee on the importance of monitoring key water indicators, and threats to Canada’s water security including Canada’s aging water infrastructure, freshwater challenges exacerbated by climate change and freshwater pollution.
Dr. Roy Brouwer, Water Institute Executive Director, Professor and University Research Chair in Water Resources Economics.
We have to focus more on the root cause of freshwater pollution, and the necessary behavioral change to move towards more sustainable water use and management, by making better use of the available tools and instruments that behavioral economics has to offer. This includes appropriate water pricing.
Earlier this year, the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development announced that it would recommence its comprehensive study of the role of the federal government in protecting and managing Canada's freshwater resources in Canada.
In considering responsibilities for freshwater protection and management throughout Canada, the study examines topics such as federal management of freshwater pollution, drinking water and wastewater, watershed management, legal frameworks for freshwater rights, climate change impacts on freshwater and groundwater. It also examines Canada’s water tech sector, Canada’s research and monitoring capacity, and freshwater and foreign policy while considering the relationships among federal departments, as well as between the federal government and provincial and territorial governments, Indigenous Peoples and local governments.
Watch the full recorded session of the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development here.