Canada's vast freshwater resources underpin our economic prosperity, public health, energy security, food systems, and critical infrastructure. As climate-related impacts and rising demand place growing strain on Canada's water systems, water security has emerged as a matter of national importance.
Against this backdrop, the Canada Water Agency and representatives from the Canada Water Security Funders Group, which collectively steward over $2.4 billion in assets, today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen collaboration on shared priorities related to water security in Canada.
The MOU recognizes the catalytic role that philanthropy can play in advancing freshwater stewardship and security, including by protecting and restoring freshwater ecosystems, supporting Indigenous-led stewardship, fostering innovation and data systems, and upholding collaborative watershed management. It reflects a shared commitment to working with Indigenous Peoples, diverse sectors, and jurisdictions to address the increasingly complex freshwater challenges facing Canadians.
The MOU also establishes a framework for collaboration that includes:
- knowledge exchanges on key issues such as water innovation, freshwater data, place-based and interdisciplinary water security issues and opportunities;
- communications and water literacy including the potential of education and outreach initiatives aimed at increasing awareness of the importance of water;
- exploring mutual priorities and combined investment opportunities including consideration of co-investment mechanisms to amplify impact; and
- broader private/public collaboration to support watershed governance, planning and management.
The MOU will also provide a key forum for engaging philanthropy in the development of the National Water Security Strategy. Development of a National Water Security Strategy is a part of the commitments included in A Force of Nature: Canada's Strategy to Protect Nature, which outlines how the federal government will invest in nature, mobilize capital, and build partnerships to protect nature across the country.
