(Vancouver) A new study warns that BC’s water and hydroelectric resources are at risk of being depleted by industrial users, thanks to lax reporting requirements and extremely low water prices.
Released today by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and the University of Victoria’s POLIS Project on Ecological Governance, the study identifies gaping holes in key information relating to the water that major industries use. For example, of the 31 water licences held by pulp and paper companies — large consumers of water and hydro — only one requires water metering.
“With our government actively encouraging eight new mines and three massive natural gas processing plants in BC by the end of this decade, the strains on our interconnected water and energy resources are approaching a crisis point,” says lead author Ben Parfitt, CCPA resource analyst and POLIS research associate.
The study also notes that water usage fees are so low that industry has little incentive to conserve. For example, natural gas companies are setting global records for water usage in controversial fracking operations in BC, yet pay at most token fees. An Olympic swimming pool’s worth of water in BC costs just $2.75, compared to $175 in Quebec.
“Many municipalities, irrigation districts and others understand the need to conserve water and energy,” says co-author Jesse Baltutis, a researcher on water policy and governance with POLIS. “Where conservation is treated seriously, there’s invariably a commitment to quantify what is used and to price it fairly.”
“BC’s water and water-derived energy resources are vital assets, but population growth, climate change, and increased water-intensive industrial activity are pushing the limits of secured access to water and energy across the province,” says Parfitt. “Our report is sounding an alarm for policy-makers that we need much better governance and integrated management of these public resources.”
The study concludes that the province must act quickly to protect its water and water-derived energy resources:
“With these four basic changes, it will be easier for the province, municipal and regional governments, and First Nations to reach new agreements about how to more effectively manage our key water and hydro resources,” says Parfitt.
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Media contacts
Sarah Leavitt (CCPA): 604-801-5121 x233 or sarah@policyalternatives.ca
Laura Brandes (POLIS): 250.721.8189 or communications@polisproject.org
Download From Stream to Steam: Emerging Challenges for BC’s Interlinked Water and Energy Resources at www.policyalternatives.ca/water-energy or http://poliswaterproject.org/publication/503.
This report is the first publication of a CCPA-POLIS collaboration examining BC’s water-energy nexus. It is also part of the CCPA’s Climate Justice Project, which is funded primarily by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.
Please note change in venue: Due to the high number of registrants, the event has been moved to the Maritime Labour Centre, at 1880 Triumph Street in Vancouver (instead of the Vancouver Public Library). Free parking at rear of building and on surrounding streets; close to transit lines on Hastings and Powell St. Location map: http://bit.ly/UnGr0z
Registration, coffee/snacks, networking: 9:15 - 10:00 AM
Formal program: 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM (lunch provided)
GOALS
SPEAKERS
BC Ombudsperson Kim Carter will join us to give an update on her work and recommendations. Additional speakers from the seniors community to be announced.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
TRAVEL SUBSIDIES
This event will have a provincial focus, and we want to ensure that as many people as possible from outside the Lower Mainland are able to attend. A limited number of travel subsidies are available - please inquire.
THIS EVENT IS FREE BUT PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED
Please contact Danny Li if you'd like to attend, danny@policyalternatives.ca, or call 604-801-5121 x222.
Supported by United Way of the Lower Mainland, Vancity, BCGEU and HEU. Co-hosted by Vancouver Cross-Cultural Seniors Network, CCPA/The Remaining Light Project and BC Health Coalition.
This is the third event in the Bring Your Boomers series organized by Gen Why Media. All ages welcome!
As part of Gen Why Media's ongoing intergenerational dialogue series, Bring Your Boomers combines intelligent conversation with music, film, visual art, storytelling and dance to provide a culturally-driven entry point to discuss social transformation.
VENUE: The Rio Theatre
TICKETS: http:// bringyourboomers3.eventbrit e.com/
OPENING PERFORMANCE: Luciterra Fusion Belly Dance quartet
STORYTELLING: CCPA’s senior economist, Marc Lee, tells the utopian story of BC’s energy policy 50 years in the future, alongside visuals created by Ben Cooper of eatART.
DIALOGUE: On-stage "living room conversations” with participants from different generations, reflecting on BC’s industrial web of fracking, pipelines, LNG plants, tankers, mines, dams and the Tar Sands. Speakers include: Damien Gillis (Y'er), Ben Parfitt (X'er) and Karen Cooling (boomer).
CLOSING PERFORMANCE: Brasstronaut
Come enjoy a theatre full of exceptional individuals, entertainment, education.... and prizes!
VPL Central Branch on Thursday October 25th from 5:30 to 6:30 PM. This is a free event but registration is required. Co-presented with the BC Health Coalition and CoDevelopment Canada. Register online at http://plannedgiving.brownpapertickets.com/, or contact Leo Yu at 604-801-5121 ext. 225 or leo [at] policyalternatives [dot] ca.
In 2007 the BC government legislated targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs), but just five years later, the province’s 2012 Natural Gas Strategy risks breaking that legislation. Our latest report, BC’s Legislated Greenhouse Gas Targets vs Natural Gas Development: The Good, The Bad and the Ugly, finds that escalated natural gas production and export will make it impossible to meet reduction targets for 2020. And not only is the natural gas industry harmful for the climate, but it creates few permanent jobs and lower and lower royalties for government as market prices continue to fall.
Author Marc Lee discusses the report on CBC Radio's Early Edition today at 6:10 AM (in BC). Keep an eye on Twitter and Facebook for updates on other media coverage.
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