In it is riddled with complications and

In my opinion, the commodification of Canada’s water can be broken down into two separate arguments. Firstly, there exists an issue of ethics.

Since water is a basic human need and access to water is a human right, is Canada obligated to sell its water to nations under water crises before selling it to nations who have sufficient access to water? And if so, how should water be priced? Is it even ethical to be selling a basic human right? Further, as we begin to feel the effects of climate change, how can we ensure that we will have enough water for our own nation in the coming years? These are challenging, but necessary questions that must be addressed before we begin to give other nations access to our natural resources. The second issue that must be confronted is that of sustainability. If we are to begin selling another of our natural resources, how are we to ensure sustainable quantities of water in order to maintain water as a renewable resource? For a resource to be renewable, the extraction rate must be lower than that of regeneration. This issue will no doubt become more complicated as the effects of climate change begin to set in.

Already we are experiencing the effects of climate change through extended periods of drought and decreased rainfall in some areas. How are we to accurately determine the level of risk and regeneration among all the uncertainties? It is not at all surprising that political bodies have largely ignored this issue. It is riddled with complications and will no doubt reveal a broad range of opinions. With that being said, this is an issue that will only become more prominent with climate change. Therefore, developing ethical and sustainable strategies now will be key to ensuring successful economic growth, environmental sustainability and moral decision-making. Unfortunately, in order to see the enactment of appropriate regulations, we must first escape the cycle of political inertia and begin the conversation.

This will not be an easy process, but it is critical that it starts sooner rather than later.