Our Water Is Not For Sale Network Responds to Alberta Irrigation Districts' Declaration

On March 22nd, Alberta's Irrigation Districts released a declaration, available online.

In response, Sierra Club Prairie's Sheila Muxlow & Sandy Kyle with Alberta Union of Public Employees - on behalf of the steering committee of the Our Water Is Not For Sale Network - made the following comments:

"Although it is encouraging that the irrigation districts recognize that water must be prioritized for human and community needs, this declaration does not go far enough as there is no recognition of ecosystem needs or treaty rights to water, nor can it be passed off as an acceptable statute to provide water security for people in times of shortage. To ensure real water security in Alberta we need to have clear legislation passed at a provincial level that entrenches protections and prioritizations of water rights for ecosystems, human needs, treaty rights, and future generations. It is not enough to rely on a 'trust us' statement from unaccountable organizations when it comes to something like water. We need strong, accountable laws to ensure just distribution of water within the province."

- Sheila Muxlow, Director, Sierra Club Prairie

“Water is a public good and access to water is a fundamental human right, so the allocation and distribution of water must obviously be a public service. It’s troubling to hear users’ groups like the irrigation districts talking as if the allocation of water should be for them to decide and for other Albertans to live with. Water allocation and distribution belongs in the public sphere and water markets or water sales must have no place in Alberta.”

— Sandy Kyle, VP, AUPE, Chair, Standing Committee on the Environment

Our Water Is Not For Sale is a network of more than 50 orgnaizations and 1,000 individuals, including faith groups, first nations, unions, environmental and social justice organizations, farmers, and many more. We are calling on the government to establish a water allocation system that respects treaty rights and puts the needs of people, our communities, and the environment first.  

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Media Contacts:

Sheila Muxlow, Sierra Club Prairie, (780) 660-0312 

Scott Harris, Council of Canadians, (780) 233-2528