Improve protection and stewardship of our freshwater resources.

What success looks like

The protection of freshwater resources is improved, and water and wastewater infrastructure is in better repair.

Government's narrative on progress

Through research, assessment and regulation, the Government of Canada is working to ensure sustainable water management. The government has taken action to protect the Great Lakes, Lake Winnipeg Basin and the St. Lawrence River by improving water quality, increasing conservation activities, addressing threats posed by invasive species, and improving collaboration with Indigenous peoples. As announced in Budget 2017, the government is investing $44.84 million to protect Great Lakes water quality, and $25.7 million for the Lake Winnipeg Basin Program. As part of its efforts to protect freshwater, Canada has announced funding to support partner-led on-the-ground projects that contribute to the restoration and protection of major freshwater basins across the country such as the Great Lakes, the St. Lawrence River Basin and the Lake Winnipeg Basin. The government is collaborating with the United States to protect shared waters through the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, and has also established a Clean Water and Wastewater Fund to help provinces, territories and municipalities make immediate repairs to water and wastewater infrastructure. The government has also published updated Metal and Diamond Mining Effluent Regulations, and has initiated consultations to modernize the Pulp and Paper Effluent Regulations and to develop regulations for effluents from coal mines and from oil sands. Work is also underway to enhance the Environmental Assessment process as it relates to freshwater areas.

Note: this is the government's own description, not an independent assessment.