The protection of freshwater in Canada is non-negotiable

April 22, 2025

To federal parties and candidates of the 2025 elections

The protection of freshwater in Canada is non-negotiable. An Open Letter to protect the water. 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.

• Enforce and strengthen policies that protect freshwater, including TheInternational Boundary Waters Treaty Act and The Great Lakes Water QualityAgreement, the Columbia River Treaty and all Canadian legislation that protects water;

• Prevent water privatization and bulk export of water and ensure Indigenous sovereignty is respected and upheld;

• Invest in freshwater research, restoration and health;

• 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

O^ice 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

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