Devils Lake Issue Shows Urgent Need For National Water Policy

The United States has failed to refer this matter to the International Joint Commission (IJC), the dispute resolution mechanism for bilateral water issues, in direct violation of the Boundary Waters Treaty. “Devils Lake sets a dangerous precedent for future conflicts over our shared water systems,” says Susan Howatt, National Water campaigner for The Council of Canadians. “This crisis – like the one in Walkerton in 2000 or the looming crisis today in the Great Lakes – underscores the need for a national water policy. Water is currently governed by a patchwork of jurisdictions that have failed to conserve and protect the integrity of Canadian water.” Water being diverted from Devils Lake has not undergone an environmental impact assessment and there are currently no safeguards to prevent invasive species and pollutants from contaminating the Red River. The recently announced pebble and gravel filter falls woefully short of providing the environmental protection needed. The Council of Canadians is calling on the federal government to show strong leadership and prevent further harm to Canadian waters by intervening in the Devils Lake issue and immediately developing a national water policy. -30- For more information, please contact: Meera Karunananthan, Media Officer, Council of Canadians: 613.233.4487 ext. 234, 613.795.8685 (cell); meera@canadians.org; www.canadians.org. -- The Council of Canadians 700-170 Laurier Avenue West, Ottawa, ON K1P 5V5. Tel: (613) 233-2773; Toll-free: 1-800-387-7177 Fax: (613) 233-6776 inquiries@canadians.org www.canadians.org [Proofreader's note: this article was edited for spelling and typos on August 7, 2005]

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