On October 16, 2024, in Winnipeg, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, officially announced the establishment of the Canada Water Agency as a standalone federal entity.
As the federal lead for freshwater science, Environment and Climate Change Canada's Science and Technology Branch is leading the development of a National Freshwater Science Agenda, an inclusive and coordinated roadmap that identifies the most pressing freshwater challenges across Canada.
Natural Resources Canada's Climate-Resilient Coastal Communities Program (CRCC) is providing funding to enhance the climate resilience of coastal communities and businesses and accelerate adaptation through integrated regional-scale pilot projects.
On October 24, Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada launched a new initiative to empower communities across Canada in building resilient, low-carbon housing and infrastructure.
The Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund will provide $6 billion over 10 years, starting in 2024-25, to accelerate the construction and upgrading of housing-enabling drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, and solid waste infrastructure, directly supporting the creation of new homes and increasing densification.
Health Canada has set a new objective for 25 specific per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water at 30 ng/L. This new objective replaces two previous drinking water guidelines and nine screening values derived for individual PFAS. The objective of 30 ng/L is based on treatment data and is considered reasonably achievable using common [...]
Housing, Infrastructure, and Communities Canada (HICC) is introducing a new climate toolkit initiative to help communities build resilient and low-carbon public infrastructure, such as water and wastewater facilities. This initiative will offer tools and support services to help communities integrate climate-smart solutions into their projects. These include: A climate help desk that will respond [...]
In 2019, the federal Minister of Environment was directed to “advance the modernization of the Canada Water Act to reflect Canada’s freshwater reality, including climate change and Indigenous rights.” The Canada Water Agency (CWA) is currently leading a pre-engagement with key partners to understand how they want to engage in this initiative. The Agency is meeting [...]
Bill C-59, the Fall Economic Statement Implementation Act, 2023, which included the Canada Water Agency Act, royal assent on June 20, 2024. It sought to establish the Canada Water Agency (CWA) as a standalone entity outside of Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC). The Act also outlined various administrative and transition provisions for the standalone Agency. Before [...]
As the federal lead for freshwater science, Environment and Climate Change Canada’s (ECCC) Science and Technology Branch is leading the development of a National Freshwater Science Agenda. The agenda is an inclusive and coordinated roadmap that identifies the most pressing freshwater challenges across Canada. It will inform a coordinated approach to the science needed [...]
