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Canada’s digital future is often described through the language of speed, productivity, and innovation. Artificial intelligence is expected to transform industries, accelerate research, improve public services, and strengthen economic competitiveness.

Yet behind every AI system is a physical footprint that is much easier to overlook.

The digital economy depends on data centres: buildings filled with servers that store, process, and move information. They support cloud computing, online banking, healthcare systems, cybersecurity, streaming, and increasingly, the AI tools that are becoming part of daily life. Inside these facilities, thousands of servers run continuously, generate heat, and require constant cooling.

Can Our Systems Support AI Growth?

The International Energy Agency estimates that global electricity consumption from data centres could more than double by 2030. Data centre electricity demand is also expected to rise by about 15% per year between 2024 and 2030, more than four times faster than electricity demand from all other sectors combined.

The pressure on electricity also appears on water. In Canada, data centre water consumption is estimated at 69.54 billion litres in 2026 and projected to reach 99.34 billion litres by 2031.

Large data centres can consume millions of litres of water per day, with 80 to 90% of that water being potable, or drinking-quality, water. A mid-sized data centre has been estimated to use about 1.13 million litres of water per day, roughly the daily water use of 5,000 Canadians. The real footprint is even larger, as this estimate does not include the water used indirectly through electricity generation.

The Myth of Unlimited Water

The expansion of AI is taking place simultaneously as water systems are already facing pressure from drought, aging infrastructure, population growth, leakage, and rising industrial demand.

As of September 2025, 85% of Canada’s agricultural landscape was classified as abnormally dry or in drought, including 67% in moderate to extreme drought. Drought is usually discussed through agriculture, wildfires, or drinking water restrictions, but it also affects the conditions under which new industries can grow. The country is therefore facing growing uncertainty around access to stable and well-distributed water.

Canada’s myth of water abundance sheds light on a key message: digital infrastructure cannot be treated separately from its water infrastructure.

An Invisible Cooling Problem

As data centres use more computing power, their servers generate increasing amounts of heat. Without effective cooling, equipment can overheat and digital services can fail, making temperature control key to data centre operations.

However, cooling involves multiple trade-offs. Some systems use more electricity, while some use more water. Others reduce energy demand by relying on evaporative cooling. In fact, 80 to 90% of water used is lost to evaporation during cooling without being returned to watersheds. When put into perspective, a cooling system that appears energy-efficient can still create another kind of pressure by increasing demand on local water supplies.

Data centres are often evaluated through energy use, emissions, and power availability. Water is reported less consistently, leaving an incomplete picture of the pressures these facilities can place on local resources.

When data centres draw from municipal systems, the issue affects not only a company’s operations, it also impacts:

• available drinking water capacity
• municipal planning and capital costs
• groundwater depletion risks
• public trust and social licence
• competition between residential, agricultural, industrial, and ecological needs

On the surface, many are asking if Canada should be building data centres. The deeper question asks whether Canada can build digital infrastructure in a way that strengthens, rather than strains, the water systems around it.

Japan: Snow as Circular Cooling Infrastructure

Around the world, some places are showing that local climate, seasonal conditions, waste heat, and circular systems can be used more creatively.

Bibai, located in Hokkaido, Japan, is a region with heavy snowfall that removes roughly 200,000 tons of snow each year. In this region, the White Data Center asked itself the following question: what if that snow could become a resource? 

Instead of treating that snow as a waste product to be cleared and removed, it is stored in insulated mounds from which the cold energy from snowmelt is used to cool its data centre operations.

Stored snow can reduce the need for conventional air conditioning, while waste heat from servers can be redirected to support nearby agriculture and aquaculture. In one example, waste heat from the data centre has been used in an eel farming project. 

This model has connected three things that are usually planned separately: snow management, data infrastructure, and local economic development.

The Opportunity for Canada

Canada already treats winter as an infrastructure challenge. Every year, cities spend heavily to clear, transport, and manage snow. Montreal budgeted nearly $200 million for snow removal in 2023-2024. Snow is usually treated as a logistical problem when it could be much more.

In some regions, Canada is already moving, storing, and managing a cold resource at significant public cost, while digital infrastructure is creating growing demand for cooling. That overlap deserves more attention: digital infrastructure can be designed around local environmental realities.

Canada has several advantages that could help it build more responsible digital infrastructure: a cold climate in many regions, but also a strong innovation capacity, a growing water technology expertise, and a significant interest in AI.

A more responsible approach would ask:

• Can the facility avoid using drinking-quality water where non-potable water would be sufficient?
• Can water be reused, recirculated, or treated on site?
• Can stormwater, snow, or seasonal cold be used where climate and design allow?
• Can waste heat support nearby buildings, greenhouses, or industrial processes?
• Can utilities verify water use through better metering and reporting?

These questions are important because water impacts are local.

Funding the Systems Behind Responsible Innovation

The link between water and AI sits across several funding areas: climate adaptation, infrastructure, innovation, community resilience, economic development, health, and equity.

Many data centres draw from municipal water systems, including drinking-quality water. It raises the question: who gets priority? 

This competition is not felt equally. Communities already facing water stress, including many rural, remote, and Indigenous communities, often have fewer resources to absorb new infrastructure pressure. The goal lies in ensuring responsible growth and equitable access to water.

Targeted philanthropic investment can help:

• De-risk innovation and fund scalable solutions: AI-enabled water management, leak detection, low-water cooling, drought forecasting
• Bridge sectors: connect tech companies, municipalities, utilities, and Indigenous leaders
• Catalyze capital: align public, private, and philanthropic investment in smart water systems
• Convene action: align AI strategy with water strategy at national and regional levels
• Guide policy development: advance clear standards and transparent reporting requirements for water use in data centres

The objective is not to reject AI or slow innovation. It is about making sure innovation is designed with the systems it depends on. And AI can be part of that solution.

Canada can lead in artificial intelligence. It can also lead in responsible digital infrastructure. However, it will require treating water as a strategic condition for the digital economy.

References

• Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. National Agroclimate Risk Report. September 2025. https://agriculture.canada.ca/en/agricultural-production/weather/national-agroclimate-risk-report
• Canadian Geographic. There’s a cost to using artificial intelligence: the water you drink. October 2025. https://canadiangeographic.ca/articles/theres-a-cost-to-your-chatgpt-query-the-water-you-drink/
• Canadian Press / CityNews. Montreal to spend nearly $200M on snow removal as winter costs rise across Canada. November 2023. https://toronto.citynews.ca/2023/11/27/montreal-to-spend-nearly-200m-on-snow-removal-as-winter-costs-rise-across-canada/
• Canadian Climate Institute. Is there a smart way to integrate artificial intelligence data centres into Canada’s electricity grids? March 2025. https://climateinstitute.ca/smart-way-integrate-artificial-intelligence-data-centres-canada-electricity-grids/
• CNN. A Japanese city is using snow to cool its data center. September 2022. https://edition.cnn.com/2022/09/06/tech/japan-white-data-center-snow-cooled-servers-climate-scn-spc-intl
• International Energy Agency. Energy and AI. https://www.iea.org/reports/energy-and-ai/energy-demand-from-ai
• Kyodo News Digital. White Data Center / Bibai snow-cooling project coverage. April 2021. https://corp.kyodo-d.jp/information/2021/0423/4211/
• Mordor Intelligence. Canada Data Center Water Consumption Market Size & Share Analysis – Growth Trends and Forecast (2026–2031). https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/canada-data-center-water-consumption-market
• The Narwhal. The AI data centre boom is here. What will it mean for land, water and power in Canada? October 2025. https://thenarwhal.ca/ai-data-centres-canada/

Canada’s water story is changing fast. Drought, flooding, and extreme weather events are putting more pressure on the systems that help bring food to our tables. For farmers, it can mean watching their crops fail after months of work, struggling to secure enough water for livestock, and facing rising costs.

These pressures are now also being felt across fisheries, rural communities, food supply chains, and household grocery bills.

Canada holds nearly 20% of the world’s freshwater reserves, yet a significant portion is non-renewable, difficult to access, or unsuitable for use. At the same time, 60% of Canada’s renewable water flows North, away from key farming regions, while crop production remains deeply dependent on predictable rainfall.

The Growing Challenge of Unpredictable Rainfall

Less than 2% of Canadian farmland uses irrigation, making it highly vulnerable when rainfall becomes less reliable. It means many Canadian farms depend on rain arriving at the right time during the growing season. In agriculture, timing becomes just as important as total rainfall.

Too little or too much water disrupts farming. A wet spring can delay seeding. A dry summer can reduce yields. Heavy rain near harvest can damage crops. Agriculture needs reliable water, in the right place, at the right time.

The Prairies as an Example

In 2021, the Prairies offered a clear example of how quickly water instability can become a food system shock. After months of low precipitation and extreme heat, severe to exceptional drought spread across Western Canada. In the Prairies, crop yields fell by 30 to 40%. Farmers faced poor pasture conditions, livestock feed and water shortages, and wildfire risks that threatened farming communities.

In Saskatchewan, crop production in the province fell by a record 47% compared with the previous year. Oat and dry pea harvests were cut in half, while wheat, canola, lentil, and barley production each decreased by about 40%. Saskatchewan was also the only province whose economy contracted that year, contributing to a food system shock.

Healthy Soil Helps Manage Water

In agriculture, soil is part of the water system. Healthy soil acts like a sponge. It can absorb rainfall, hold moisture during dry periods, and reduce runoff during heavy rain. Agriculture depends on these natural functions for long-term food production. Therefore, when soil is degraded or too dry and followed by heavy rain, it behaves differently. Water runs off faster, erosion increases, and both drought and flooding generate worse impacts.

Water resilience in agriculture is thus also about land stewardship. Protecting soil health, wetlands, biodiversity, and natural systems helps farms manage extreme weather.

Water Security is Food Security

Water is one of the most important inputs in Canada’s food system. Beyond soil health, it supports crops, livestock, fisheries, processing, transportation, and the ecosystems that make food production possible.

Yet agriculture is being forced to operate in an unpredictable climate. This growing uncertainty affects food systems in several ways:

• Crop production depends on rainfall that is becoming more erratic
• Irrigation systems are facing higher demand during peak growing periods
• Livestock producers depend on reliable water sources for animals and feed production
• Fisheries and wild food systems depend on healthy aquatic ecosystems

Without water stability, there is no food stability. When water arrives too late, too quickly, or not at all, the impacts move through the entire food system.

Drought is Putting Canada’s Food System Under Stress

Drought is one of the clearest ways water instability appears in agriculture.

In 2025, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada reported that drought remained the most significant climate-related agricultural risk across the country. As of September, 85% of Canada’s agricultural landscape experienced drought, including 67% in moderate to extreme drought.

These conditions affect far beyond crops in the field. Droughts reduce yields, increase feed costs and limit water supplies. They fuel wildfires by drying out soils and vegetation. When plants and trees lose moisture or die, they add more fuel to landscapes, making fires easier to ignite and harder to control.

The Financial Pressure on Farmers

The economic consequences are already visible. According to a UPA survey, 42% of farm businesses reported a net loss, while 52% were at risk of failing to meet their financial obligations. For next-generation farms, that number rose to 67%.

Drought has increased insurance pressure across the sector. The Canadian Climate Institute notes that drought has contributed to a 450% increase in crop insurance payments in Canada, rising from $890 million in 2018 to $4.9 billion in 2022.

When water becomes unreliable, farmers are often the first to feel the pressure. But they are not the only ones affected. The entire food system is disrupted.

What Happens When Water Systems Fail

When water instability moves through the food system, it becomes a direct driver of food prices, threatening farmers’ livelihoods, and increasing households’ cost of living. It determines whether food can be produced reliably, moved efficiently, and kept affordable.

When severe weather events occur and put pressure on already stressed water systems, the impacts move quickly from farm to table:

• Reduced crop yields put pressure on supply
• Higher production costs contribute to higher food prices
• Damaged infrastructure disrupts transportation, processing, and distribution
• Stress on aquatic ecosystems affects fisheries, wild food sources, and biodiversity

For households, these pressures arrive in a familiar place: the grocery bill. Food insecurity is already a major challenge in Canada. In 2025, 24% of people in Canada lived in a food-insecure household, representing approximately 9.8 million people.

Chart: PROOF – Source: Statistics Canada Table 13-10-0834-01

Opportunity for Foundations

Canada has the knowledge and innovation needed to respond to water instability in agriculture. What is needed now is scale, coordination, and capital.

Targeted investment can help accelerate innovation, including precision agriculture, water-efficient technologies, drought monitoring, early warning systems, and tools that help farmers make better decisions with better data. It can also help connect sectors that too often work separately: water, agriculture, food security, climate resilience and farmer livelihoods.

Through the Canada Water Security Funders Group, foundations are uniquely positioned to help strengthen awareness, support collaboration, and contribute to solutions that reduce risk before communities are forced to respond to a crisis.

A Food System Built for the Future

Canada’s food system depends on water that is reliable, and that appears in the right place, at the right time. Having water is not the same as having water security. Without water security, Canada cannot expect long-term food security, stable rural livelihoods, resilient supply chains, or affordable, local food for households.

In agriculture, water is the foundation for how we grow, produce, distribute, and access food. If unstable, it is felt through farms, ecosystems, grocery stores, and homes. Protecting water means protecting the people, places, and systems that make food possible.

References

• Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. A Sustainable Agriculture Strategy for Canada. https://agriculture.canada.ca/en/document
• Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. National Agroclimate Risk Report. October 22, 2025. https://agriculture.canada.ca/en/agricultural-production/weather/national-agroclimate-risk-report
• Canadian Climate Institute. Fact Sheet: Climate Change and Drought. August 18, 2025. https://climateinstitute.ca/news/fact-sheet-climate-change-and-drought/
• CBC News. Much of Atlantic Region Officially Suffering “Extreme Drought,” Agriculture Canada Confirms. September 12, 2025. https://www.cbc.ca/lite/story/1.7632465
• L’Union des producteurs agricoles. Survey Results. https://www.upa.qc.ca/en/consommateur/communication-center/special-features/the-farming-crisis/resultats-des-sondages
• PROOF, University of Toronto. New Data on Household Food Insecurity in 2024. May 5, 2025. https://proof.utoronto.ca/2025/new-data-on-household-food-insecurity-in-2024/
• Statistics Canada. Behind the Numbers: What’s Causing Growth in Food Prices. November 16, 2022. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/62f0014m/62f0014m2022014-eng.htm#a3
• Statistics Canada. Drought Drags Down Saskatchewan Economy in 2021. September 23, 2022. https://www.statcan.gc.ca/o1/en/plus/1852-drought-drags-down-saskatchewan-economy-2021

Water shapes how communities function. What we can build. What we can afford. How well we are prepared for an increasingly unstable climate. As April brings more rain, flooding offers one of the clearest examples of how water-related risks are changing life across Canada.

The country’s water story is changing fast. Flooding, drought, and extreme weather are putting more pressure on communities across the country and on water systems that are already under stress. The impacts are becoming harder to ignore. Floods are damaging homes, disrupting infrastructure, and driving up costs. They are increasing pressure on households, municipalities, and insurers.

British Columbia as a Warning Sign

British Columbia offers a clear view of what this looks like in practice. Flood risk in the province is growing and recurring, shaped by both climate change and land-use pressures. In 2024, the province released its B.C. Flood Strategy, recognizing that flood risks are increasing and that a more coordinated, long-term response is needed. Yet the strategy still lacks the implementation funding needed in the 2026 budget to respond at the scale many communities require, even as flood warnings, evacuations, and recovery costs continue to rise.

The situation in B.C. shows what happens when climate pressure, watershed pressure, and infrastructure pressure meet. It also reflects a broader national reality: flood risk is growing across Canada, requiring a more proactive approach.

The Risk of Atmospheric Rivers

One reason flood risk is so acute in B.C. is the increasing danger of atmospheric rivers. Often described as a “river in the sky,” an atmospheric river is a long and narrow band of air carrying large amounts of water vapour through the atmosphere. When that moisture is pushed upward over mountains, it cools and falls as intense rain or snow. These rivers can help replenish water supplies, but when they are strong, they can also trigger heavy precipitation, flooding, landslides and widespread damage. Meanwhile, climate change is making them more frequent and intense.

B.C. has already seen how destructive these events can be. In October 2024, a Category 4 atmospheric river hit the Lower Mainland, leaving five people dead. In the Fraser Valley, Ned Murray of the Sumas First Nation says that the answer is not to fight water, but to learn to live with it. In that landscape, flooding is natural, but climate change makes it more severe. The challenge is to respond more intelligently by rethinking infrastructure, restoring ecological function, and respecting the cultural importance of water to the people who have lived with it longest.

Why Floods Are Becoming More Common and More Damaging

Floods are becoming more common for environmental reasons, but also for human ones. As temperatures rise, warmer air can hold more moisture. That means storms can deliver heavier rainfall over shorter periods of time. The result is greater pressure on rivers, drainage systems, roads, and built infrastructure. Flooding is already Canada’s most common and costly natural hazard, and climate change is making those impacts worse. Flood damage in Canada is estimated at $2-5 billion annually.

Human activity exacerbates flooding. In fact, flood risk begins upstream: in wetlands, forests, headwaters, and floodplains. When wetlands are drained, lakes altered, and forests heavily cut, the land loses part of its natural ability to absorb water. This is why flooding cannot be understood only as a weather event. It is also shaped by land use, infrastructure choices, and how much space we leave for water to move.

Flooding is Also a Financial Risk

Water risk is no longer episodic. It is systemic, and it is reshaping Canada’s financial stability. Flooding and storms are now major drivers of insured losses in Canada. At the same time, rising exposure is putting greater strain on households, communities, insurers, housing systems, and municipal budgets. Insurance premiums have risen by 31% since 2021, making water instability now a direct driver of insurance markets, housing affordability, and financial risk.

When water systems fail, multiple consequences follow:

• Increased flooding drives up insurance payouts and reduces coverage availability
• Rising insurance costs make homeownership more expensive and increase mortgage risk
• Infrastructure failure raises municipal debt and taxpayer burdens
• Repeated exposure to flood damage can also make real estate values and assets more volatile

Beyond the fact that flooding is costly, it creates compounding risk across markets, systems and households.

The Costs are Not Shared Equally

The people least equipped to absorb repeated losses are often the ones most exposed to them. In high-risk areas, access to affordable insurance is already becoming more limited. Across Canada, about 10% of households, or roughly 1.5 million homes, are highly exposed to flooding. In fact, 80% of Canadian cities are built on floodplains.

These risks fall especially heavily on rural, northern, and Indigenous communities. Longstanding infrastructure gaps and historical underinvestment have left many of these communities more exposed and less equipped to recover. First Nations communities are disproportionately affected by flooding, often because flood-protection infrastructure is inadequate or broader infrastructure deficits remain unresolved. Seasonal flooding continues to put communities across the country at risk.

What Needs to Change

If flood risk starts upstream, then solutions must start there too. That means going beyond emergency response, and investing earlier in prevention, resilience and better land-use decisions. It means protecting wetlands and floodplains, strengthening watershed management, improving flood mapping, upgrading critical infrastructure and supporting nature-based solutions.

It also means changing our approach. We cannot keep treating water as an abundant resource and flooding as a temporary disruption. That includes integrating Indigenous knowledge and listening to communities that have long understood how water moves, where it needs space, and what happens when that reality is ignored.

The Opportunity for Foundations

Foundations working in housing, health, economic resilience, infrastructure, and community wellbeing are already working downstream of water. The opportunity now is to act further upstream, where the leverage is deeper.

Canada has the knowledge and tools to reduce water-driven financial risk. What is needed now is coordination, scale, and early investment. Through the Canada Water Security Funders Group, foundations have an opportunity to help catalyze the solutions, partnerships, and investment needed to strengthen resilience across communities. This challenge is solvable, but only with the right coordination, capital, and commitment.

From Water Abundance to Water Security

Having water is not the same as having water security. Canada is learning that lesson through flooding. Without water security, communities cannot count on housing security, insurance stability, infrastructure resilience, or long-term financial stability.

And that is the deeper lesson flooding is teaching us. Water is not a background variable in financial systems. It is a climate risk that has become an economic risk, a community risk, and a financial equity risk all at once. What comes next depends on investing early, acting upstream, and treating water security as the foundation of resilient communities.

References

• Canadian Climate Institute / Shared Value Solutions. Indigenous Housing and Climate Resilience Report. January 15, 2024. https://climateinstitute.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/CCI_IndigenousHousingAndClimateResilience.pdf
• Canadian Climate Institute. FACT SHEET: Climate change and flooding. September 4, 2024. https://climateinstitute.ca/news/fact-sheet-climate-change-and-flooding/
• Canadian Climate Institute. Massive investment needed to ready Canada’s infrastructure for climate change: Report. September 29, 2021. https://climateinstitute.ca/news/massive-investment-needed-to-ready-canadas-infrastructure-for-climate-change-report/
• Federation of Canadian Municipalities. Investing in Canada’s future: The cost of climate adaptation. https://fcm.ca/en/resources/investing-in-canadas-future
• Government of Canada. Government of Canada Adaptation Action Plan. https://www.canada.ca/en/services/environment/weather/climatechange/climate-plan/national-adaptation-strategy/action-plan.html
• Insurance Bureau of Canada. Severe weather-related insured losses in Canada exceed $2.4 billion in 2025. https://www.ibc.ca/news-insights/news/severe-weather-related-insured-losses-in-canada-exceed-2-4-billion-in-2025
• The Narwhal. 3 years, 2 deadly atmospheric rivers. Is B.C. ready for the next one? https://thenarwhal.ca/bc-flood-sumas-lake/
• The Narwhal. B.C.’s flooding, again — here’s what to know. https://thenarwhal.ca/bc-atmospheric-river-flooding-risk-2026/

This summer, Quebec’s rivers have never been so parched. In many regions, once-roaring riverbeds have turned into cracked ribbons of stone. Municipalities were forced to ration water, wells ran dry, dams struggled to generate power, and aquatic life fought to survive in thin, polluted streams of lukewarm water.

This is no longer just a dry spell—it marks a historic turning point. Quebec, long proud of its thousands of lakes and rivers, is discovering that it is not immune to a deepening water crisis. Water, once seen as an inexhaustible resource, has suddenly become scarce, fragile, and precious.

In the face of this reality, one question looms: how far will we let our rivers run dry before we act? Because behind every drop lost lies more than an environmental issue—it’s the unraveling of an entire economic, social, and ecological balance.

Climatic and Hydrological Context, An Alarming Precipitation Deficit

As reported by Hugo Duchaine in his Journal de Montréal article on October 11, since the beginning of summer, several regions across Quebec have recorded rainfall deficits ranging from 30% to 50% below seasonal norms. In September, some areas received only 50 mm of rain, compared to the usual average of 140 mm, putting severe pressure on lakes, rivers, and groundwater reserves.

According to the CASCADES hydrological project, low-flow episodes (or drought flows) are expected to become more severe in the future due to climate change, disrupting the natural water cycle between seasons. The Government of Quebec is closely monitoring these changes through water-level and flow tracking systems, adjusted according to various climate scenarios for the 2050 and 2080 horizons.

Drought affects not only surface water but also groundwater reserves, which are vital for many private wells. In eastern Quebec, well owners are already facing near-depleted water reserves.

In short, Quebec is experiencing a persistent hydric deficit, one that is eroding the safety margins of both its rivers and underground water resources.

Behind the Drought: A Storm of Human and Natural Causes

If Quebec’s rivers are drying up today, it’s not only because of the climate. A web of interconnected factors, some natural, others directly tied to our collective choices, is amplifying the crisis and weakening the province’s hydrological balance.

Climate change acts first as an accelerator. Heat waves are becoming more frequent, evaporation rates are rising, and precipitation patterns are increasingly erratic. Dry spells are lasting longer, leaving rivers with less time to recharge. According to Ouranos, these periods of water deficit, particularly severe during summer, are expected to become both more frequent and more intense over the coming years.

On top of this climatic disruption comes mounting human pressure. As river flow decreases, the natural capacity to dilute effluents collapses. Municipal and industrial discharges become more concentrated, making water treatment more complex and costly. At the same time, water demand continues to grow: agriculture, industry, and municipalities are drawing from already fragile reserves. The Bulletin des agriculteurs notes that surface water withdrawals are often underestimated, which prevents an accurate picture of the real situation.

Territorial changes further aggravate the problem. Urbanization, deforestation, and the construction of roads and dams deeply alter the natural dynamics of watersheds. These developments reduce the soil’s ability to absorb and retain water, accelerate runoff, and limit the recharge of groundwater. As a result, rivers become more vulnerable to temperature and precipitation variations.

Adding to this is a dangerous domino effect. The CASCADES project has shown how prolonged droughts trigger a chain reaction: river flows drop, aquatic habitats disappear, rivers lose their natural self-purification capacity, and biodiversity weakens. Each compromised link increases pressure on the others, ultimately threatening the overall stability of the system.

Behind the current drought lies a far more complex reality. Quebec is facing a convergence of climatic, human, and structural factors that are reshaping our relationship with water. It is a silent but consequential crisis, one that reminds us how profoundly our actions, infrastructure, and collective decisions influence the vital cycle of our rivers.

Initiatives and Solutions Already Within Reach

Fortunately, several courses of action are emerging to counter, or at least mitigate, these effects:

• Hydrological monitoring and modeling: water flow tracking tools (such as those developed by the Government of Quebec) help anticipate critical episodes and guide timely interventions.
• Ecological river restoration: rehabilitating riverbanks, restoring riparian wetlands, and reducing sediment disturbances strengthen rivers’ natural ability to retain water.
• Improved water use management and fees: regulating and better documenting water use across agriculture, industry, and municipalities can help prevent excessive withdrawals during critical periods.
• Infrastructure optimization: modernizing water treatment systems, promoting water-saving practices (such as reducing losses and recycling), and adapting dams to better regulate flow are key to increasing resilience.
• Mobilization and coordination: collaboration among foundations, governments, municipalities, and local communities is essential to achieving lasting results.
• Awareness and behavior change: encouraging citizens to limit non-essential water use, such as watering lawns, washing cars, or filling pools, especially during drought periods, remains one of the simplest and most effective actions.

The Fondation de Gaspé Beaubien is driving progress on all these fronts by supporting AquaAction, an initiative that empowers innovators and entrepreneurs to develop and deploy cutting-edge technologies in the water sector.

These water crisis solutions aim to measure, treat, recycle, conserve, and protect freshwater, from smart irrigation in agriculture, to industrial water reuse, urban leak detection, and the fight against contaminants. They support every sector of society: manufacturing, energy, agriculture, artificial intelligence, and even defense.

Water as the Thread of a Resilient Future

The Drying of Our Rivers Is No Isolated Phenomenon, it is the symptom of deeper dynamics tied to climate, land use, and water governance. In Quebec, the scale of the current drought demands that we rethink our relationship with water, as a fragile, precious, and interconnected resource.

The Fondation de Gaspé Beaubien has made it its mission to have water security recognized as a matter of national security, and to act as a catalyst for scaling up sustainable and innovative solutions to this unprecedented crisis.

Addressing this challenge requires strong alliances, bold innovation, coherent policies, and the active mobilization of all stakeholders.

References

Journal de Montréal. Le Québec est à sec: le manque d’eau cause des problèmes dans les villes, dans les champs et sur les lacs de la province cet automne. Accessed October 11, 2025.

TVA Nouvelles. Sécheresse prolongée: les résidents de Québec doivent réduire la consommation d’eau. Accessed October 3, 2025.

Durano. Étiages et sécheresses hydrologiques – Impacts. Accessed October 11, 2025.

Forest fires, floods, heat waves, torrential rain… individuals and collectives are now facing the many consequences of climate change. It is one of our most complicated and urgent challenges. Signs of these changes are already visible all over the world. Faced with this reality, it is imperative that we take concrete measures to prevent and manage the consequences of these changes which will only intensify in the future.

The Impacts of Climate Change are Already Here!

The consequences of climate change are already part of everyday life. Each season sees its number of climate risks and various events increase every year. More frequent and intense storms, prolonged droughts, deadly heat waves, inadequate snow cover, forest fires, floods … These events are no longer long-term predictions, but rather a tangible reality that significantly impacts our daily lives and environment. 

Joanna Eyquem, a member of the Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation’s management team, explained to La Presse: “Climate risks are not an environmental problem of the future. They are a financial and pressing problem. The public and private sectors must act now.”

Collective Consciousness is Necessary

Faced with these many challenges, collective consciousness is crucial. Each person must understand the urgency to act to preserve the planet and ensure a viable future for future generations. This requires concrete actions coordinated at every level, from the engaged citizen to national and international policies.

The Importance of Preserving and Managing Water

The preservation and management of fresh water is at the heart of the efforts to adapt to climate change. Water is a vital element for the survival of every lifeform on earth, and its quality and availability are directly threatened by the effects of climate change.

The preservation and management of fresh water are not only local issues, but global challenges that touch every aspect of our lives: our environment, our economy, our health, etc. By adopting sustainable practices and investing in adapted infrastructures, we can contribute to preserving this vital resource for present and future generations.

Although many participants and stakeholders have proven this through the Study on Freshwater in Canada conducted by the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development, the 2024 Canadian budget did not put the emphasis we were expecting on the key questions of droughts, floods, and water supply.

Prevention Rather than Cure: Managing Emergencies isn’t Enough

Faced with climate challenges, it is essential to adopt a proactive approach focused on preventing rather than reacting to crises. Managing emergencies is crucial, but it cannot fix long-term problems on its own. It is time to invest in preventative measures in order to reduce the negative impacts of climate change on our water resources.

Nan-b de Gaspe Beaubien, chair of the Foundation’s board and founder of AquaAction, explains:” Engagement exclusively focused on managing emergencies and training firemen is not enough. We also need to prepare ourselves by investing in innovative technological solutions that will be able to supply the water necessary to fight fires without compromising water reserves for citizens.”

3.1. How to Prepare for Floods

Flooding is one of the most visible consequences of climate change, with extreme precipitations becoming more and more frequent. To prepare for this, we need to reinforce drainage infrastructures, rethink urban design in order to limit flood zones, and educate the population on which actions to take in case of a flood. 

“To better prevent flooding, we must systematically prioritize solutions based on nature in every type of environment. For example, by building more green roofs, more parks, more river layouts where we let nature take over our riverbanks, etc. We have to be ingenious, innovative, and creative”, explains Dominique Monchamp, Executive Director of the Foundation and coordinator of the Canadian Coalition for Healthy Water.

3.2. How to Reduce the Risk of Forest Fires

Forest fires are another issue exacerbated by warmer and drier climate conditions. To reduce this risk, it is crucial to run awareness campaigns on fire prevention, put into place measures to manage forest fuels, and improve the coordination of emergency services for a rapid and efficient response. 

Experts from the FireSmart program recommend eliminating all fuels within a 0-1,5 m range as well as eliminating all the resinous plants within a 10 m radius around our house, and within a radius of 10-30 m, conifers should be pruned and separated in such a way that there is at least 5 m between each tree. 

Obviously, these measures reduce the risk, but do not eliminate it completely. “We need to be aware that we live in an environment where there are forest fires, that measures like these can help, but we may still need to evacuate because of smoke or because a fire becomes uncontrollable.”, clarifies the highly skilled researcher, Sylvie Gauthier.

3.3. How to Prepare for Extreme Heat Waves

Extreme heat waves are becoming more and more frequent, endangering the health and wellbeing of vulnerable populations. In order to prepare for these episodes, it is essential to reinforce our healthcare infrastructures, provide refreshment areas accessible to everyone, and bring awareness to the steps to take to protect ourselves from excessive heat.

Towards a Resilient Future: Working Together to Face Climate Change

The prevention and management of the consequences of climate change are major challenges that require collective and coordinated action. By focusing on preserving and managing fresh water, adopting preventative measures, and preparing ourselves for the inevitable impacts, we can contribute to creating a more resilient and sustainable future for everyone. The fight against climate change can no longer be postponed; it must become our priority today.

The preservation and better management of fresh water across Canada are crucial issues that require the commitment of a number of stakeholders, including governmental departments at every level. In March of 2023, the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development announced the launch of an exhaustive study on the role of the federal government in the protection and management of Canada’s freshwater resources. A year later, the committee has received 39 briefs and heard 145 witnesses in order to evaluate the state of Canada’s fresh water and the actions recommended by the experts.

What is the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development?

The Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development is a parliamentary department that plays a crucial role in the study of environmental issues and sustainable development in Canada. Composed of members from different political parties, the committee is tasked with studying and producing recommendations for questions such as the conservation of biodiversity, climate change, and, in the case that interests us today, fresh water.

Who are the Members of this Committee?

The Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development is composed of 12 deputies. The 12 members come from different political parties in Canada.

What is the Study on Freshwater in Canada?

The Study on Freshwater in Canada undertaken by the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development aims to evaluate the federal government’s role in protecting and managing Canada’s freshwater resources. This study examines various aspects of water management, including the quality of the water, the management of watersheds, the protection of aquatic ecosystems, technological innovation to simplify treatment and/or preservation, the management of our water, as well as water management policies.

The Committee also heard the recommendations of many witnesses and experts across the country, including the De Gaspe Beaubien Foundation, AquaAction, and several of our partners.

Testimonies and Briefs

De Gaspé Beaubien Foundation

In order to highlight our cause, the Foundation shared observations and conclusions collected over the last 10 years in a brief titled Mesures urgentes à prendre pour accroître et protéger l’innovation en matière de technologie de l’eau au Canada. 

In this brief, we proposed five recommendations:

1. Implementing a plan for funding and accelerator programs dedicated to helpingf young entrepreneurs in the water tech sector.
2. Working together with the municipalities and relevant parties in the industry in order to create a system that could simplify young entrepreneurs’ access to various bodies of water, allowing the deployment of pilot projects in real locations.
3. Putting into place a formal and solid partnership between the National Research Council of Canada and the Canadian Water Agency in order to ensure better inter-ministerial collaboration.
4. Creating tax incentives and deductions for enterprises and investors that are innovating the water tech sector.
5. Investing in education and training programs specifically geared towards water tech.

AquaAction

AquaAction’s recommendations presented in their brief and in the testimony of Soula Chronopoulos, President of AquaAction, focused on Canada’s strategic national interests in relation to fresh water and economic security.

Ms. Chronopoulos explained: “In our view, these practical and common-sense suggestions be‐ long in every party’s platform. It’s time to treat Canada’s freshwater protection as both an economic and environmental issue. Let me be blunt: Canada’s water-tech sector must be treated as a core component of our freshwater protection strategy.”

Water Rangers

Water Rangers is a non-profit organization that creates tools for the community monitoring of our water and provides a platform of open data accessible by the public. The platform is used by over 300 groups in Canada, the United States, Mexico, and in the United Kingdom. Kat Kavanagh, executive director of Water Rangers and winner of AquaHacking 2015, shared her experience with data collection in Canada and elsewhere in the world in front of the committee.
The entrepreneur ended her testimony with two recommendations: “First of all, we need to invest in leadership and innovation related to the collection and exchange of data produced from water monitoring in our communities. Second, we need to reinforce the communities’ long-term ability to participate in decision making based on the data collected in their communities’ local waterbodies.”

Canadian Coalition for Healthy Waters

Andrew Stegeman, then coordinator for the Canadian Coalition for Healthy Waters, also testified. He took advantage of this time to make five recommendations, similar in certain regards to those of the Foundation. 

According to him, the government should:

1. Play a key role in the creation and mobilization of the knowledge and tools required to understand and predict the challenges and possibilities related to water. 
2. Progress their commitment to reconciliation with the indigenous nations by creating access roads and supplying resources for the co-management of the waterbodies we share.
3. Take measures to reinforce cooperation at the federal level for decision making and the community management of our water. 
4. Set the example by adopting an approach focussed on the importance of watershed delineation during the decision-making process.
5. Prioritize the modification of outdated federal laws and policies on water. The focus should immediately be directed toward renewing the Law on Canada’s resources, which has remained unchanged for the past 50 years.

Réseau Environnement

Over the last 60 years, Réseau Environnement

has become the largest group of environmental specialists in Canada. The association brings together over 2000 experts from the public, private, and academic sectors working in fields such as water, waste, air, climate change, energy, soils, groundwater, and biodiversity. Their participation in this study was therefore key. 

In their brief and testimony, Réseau Environnement highlights 3 of their members’ long-standing priorities:

1. The underfunding of water services.
2. Modernizing the sewage treatment systems.
3. Ensure the success of the Canadian Water Agency

The Importance of this Study for the future of our Water

This study is of crucial importance for the future of our freshwater resources. It will identify gaps in the current management of our limitrophe and transboundary water, and collect recommendations to improve the protection and management of these vital resources from a federal standpoint while respecting provincial expertise. 

By taking the opinion of experts and the scientific data into account, this study will guide the policies and federal government’s actions to guarantee the quality and availability of fresh water for future generations.

Let’s Act Now to Protect Fresh Water!

The preservation and better management of fresh water are obtainable objectives, but it is imperative to act now! Although several aspects of water management are the provincial governments’ responsibility (and that is a good thing), the Study on Freshwater in Canada undertaken by the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development is a crucial step in the right direction. 

The information collected will be useful to all. Benefiting from the knowledge and recommendations formulated as part of this study, the stakeholders (provinces, territories, indigenous communities, municipalities, non-profit organizations …) will be able to work together to ensure a sustainable future for our precious freshwater resources.

You too can help preserve freshwater.

Canada possesses a winter treasure that represents much more than simple passing beauty (or a source of frustration for those who would prefer to avoid it…). Snow plays a crucial role in the Canadian environmental dynamic. As climate change is remodeling our world, understanding the formation and impact of snow cover has become essential. Let’s explore the subject.

1. What is the Snow Cover?

Snow cover isn’t simply a vast white stretch, but rather a complex, multi-faceted mechanism. Understanding snow cover’s complex nature is essential to foresee its impact on the Canadian environment. As an active participant in the meteorological and ecological choreography, snow cover shapes the Canadian landscape in a unique way.

• Snow formation: snow isn’t just flakes falling from the sky. It is formed by ice crystals that are created when water vapor in the atmosphere condenses into ice. These varied and delicate crystals then stick together to create the snowflakes that form the snow cover. 
• Stratification of the cover: Snow cover is not uniform. It is stratified by successive precipitations, creating distinctive layers of different types of snow. Meteorologists can analyze these stratifications in order to obtain information on past meteorological conditions; a sort of natural archive written in the snow. 
• Thermal insulation: The snow acts as a natural thermal insulator. It traps air between its crystals, creating a barrier that protects the soil and plants from extreme temperatures. This property is crucial to the survival of plant and animal life during harsh winters. 
• Sunlight reflection: The white snow reflects a large portion of sunlight, contributing to maintaining lower temperatures in snowy regions. 
• Evolution through the season: Snow cover isn’t static. It evolves, melting in the spring and reforming in the winter. This seasonal dynamic not only influences local meteorological conditions, but also the biological cycle of numerous species.
•  

2. Why is the Snow Cover Important?

Snow cover plays a crucial role in the water preservation in Canada. By acting as a water reserve for rivers, it not only supports aquatic ecosystems, but also those of key sectors such as agriculture and the production of hydroelectric energy. 

Changes in the snow cover therefore have important consequences on ecological and human systems. For example, the melting of the ice and mountain snow covers are crucial for a multitude of sectors, including aquatic ecosystems, agriculture, the production of hydroelectric energy, and leisure activities.

3. Serions Repercussions

Climate change affects the durability and quality of the snow cover. Questions such as premature melting or the movement of masses of snow become crucial concerns, influencing the availability of fresh water, weather charts, and the living environments of humans and animals. 

• Alteration of Wildlife Habitats :

The snow cover acts as a protective cover for numerous animals during the winter. Arctic hares, for example, blend into the snowy landscape in order to avoid predators. However, changes in the snow cover could disturb these camouflage strategies, exposing the animals to an increased risk of predation. Moreover, premature melting of the snow cover could compromise the availability of food resources, directly impacting the fauna.

• Changes in Precipitations and Flooding :

The snow cover plays a crucial role in the water cycle. By melting slowly, it progressively releases water into the lakes and rivers, regulating precipitation regimes. Changes in the snow cover can result in a more rapid melting, increasing the risk of flooding in the spring. On the other hand, a reduction of the snow cover can lead to a decrease of available freshwater.

• Influence on Biodiversity :

The ecosystems often depend on well-defined seasonal cycles to maintain their balance. The snow cover, as an integral part of these cycles, influences biodiversity. Variations in the longevity of the snow cover can affect plant growth, bird migration, and insect behavior. These changes can have cascading repercussions, disrupting the ecosystem as a whole.

• Impacts on Water Quality :

The snow cover acts as a giant sponge, filtering atmospheric impurities and pollution. When it melts, it releases this filtered water into water sources, contributing to maintaining a high quality of water. Changes in the snow cover can alter this process, affecting the purity of the water and compromising the aquatic ecosystems as well as the availability of drinking water for local communities.

• Impacts on Aquatic Ecosystems :

The temperature and quantity of the water released by the melting snow can have significant effects on aquatic ecosystems. These changes can affect the reproduction of fish, as well as the growth of algae and other aquatic organisms, disrupting the delicate balance of freshwater ecosystems.

The Snow Cover and Freshwater are Closely Linked

Canada, the country of snow par excellence, is seeing its snow cover go through unprecedented changes. In this time of climate change, it is imperative to study and preserve this winter treasure for future generations. Snow, much more than a simple meteorological phenomenon, is a precious indicator of the environmental challenges to come. The snow cover and freshwater are closely linked, and any changes in the former has direct repercussions on the availability, quality, and regulation of our freshwater resources, including the state of Quebec’s lakes. These ties highlight the vital importance of understanding and monitoring the snow cover in the larger context of the sustainable management of water resources. Another necessary expertise in water preservation..

Découvrez comment vous pouvez contribuer à la préservation de l’eau douce.

Canada has a rich entrepreneurial history. Unfortunately, it is very little known. To continue innovating and evolving, the innovators of today need to understand the past and the people who helped shape it. Proud of their multigenerational entrepreneurial involvement, the de Gaspé Beaubien family has decided to throw itself into the highlighting and popularization of this entrepreneurial history through a virtual experience: the de Gaspé Beaubien Museum.

Visit the de Gaspé Beaubien Museum!

What is the de Gaspé Beaubien Museum?

The de Gaspé Beaubien Museum is entirely virtual and free. It is a digital experience accessible to everyone that presents 400 years of history with the help of the autobiographical stories of 10 bold and determined men and women.

Everything is accessible online at degaspebeaubienmuseum.com. There you will find photographs of unique historical artefacts; cards, portraits, photographs, artwork, novels, patents of nobility granted by King Louis XIV… all of these photos help to make the stories being told tangible and immerse us in these important people’s daily lives.

Knowing Where We Come From

Understanding our roots is an essential part of navigating in the present and creating our future. Our ancestors are invisible architects who hold the plans of our past. For Philippe II de Gaspé Beaubien, it was a question of identity.

“After the death of my mother and the resulting solitude of my father, I began to question my place in the world. The stories of my forebears brought me a sense of self and I wanted the same for my offspring. I wanted to expand the historical research which led me to hire an historian to continue the research.” explains the patriarch of the de Gaspé Beaubien family.

A Long-Term Project

In the early 70s, Philippe II de Gaspé Beaubien hired the historian Helene-Andree Bizier to start the research and bring to light the story of his ancestors. The Museum’s texts are inspired by the historian’s work, Les 6 Clans de la Maison de Gaspé Beaubien. At the same time, he hired Dr. Schwarts “le chercheur de trésor” to find family artifacts which have become treasured items for the Museum.

As you will see in the Museum: “From Charles Aubert de La Chesnaye, the first millionaire in North America, to Philippe de Gaspé Beaubien, mayor of Expo 67 and creator of a media empire, the history of the de Gaspé Beaubien family shows that the roots of entrepreneurship in Quebec go back a long way.”

Learning for Everyone

At the start, all of this genealogical and historical research was a personal project for Philippe. He planned to share his discoveries with his children and save family artifacts for future generations, but nothing more.

However, the more the family members found out, the more they encouraged Philippe II to make the uncovered stories public. The opinion of the children and grandchildren was unanimous: these stories and discoveries had to be shared.

“These stories are so interesting. If they can be useful to us, they could also be useful to others. We can be proud of our heritage, so why not share it?” – Philippe III de Gaspé Beaubien

Philippe II explains: ”I personally have been greatly inspired by my ancestors throughout my entrepreneurial career. In my moments of great doubt or even failure, they showed me the way to continue persevering… If their stories can inspire or encourage even one more person, it will be worth it.”

Develop your Entrepreneurial Spirit with the de Gaspé Beaubien Museum

With their numerous entrepreneurial experiences (Expo 67, Telemedia, Participaction…), over 30 years of involvement and innovation with the de Gaspé Beaubien Foundation, and now the launch of the de Gaspé Beaubien Museum, Philippe II and Nan-b believe more than ever in the strength of the family and the opportunity to learn from their ancestors. “According to us, all of these stories and our own experience demonstrate the strength of the family and family values. For us, the family and the enterprise make one. We are stronger together. We go further. Vade Ultra.”

The de Gaspé Beaubien Museum is the perfect occasion for people, both young and old, to learn more about Quebec and Canada’s entrepreneurial history. Explore the de Gaspé Beaubien Museum now to increase your knowledge and inspire your entrepreneurial spirit.

Quebec is dotted with lakes and other bodies of water. Not only do they offer breathtaking scenery, but they also play a vital role in the ecological and economic balance of many regions. In recent years, the state of Quebec’s lakes has become increasingly worrying. What is happening to the health of these precious ecosystems and the preservation of our water?

1. The situation in numbers

Today, over 800 lakes are active Réseau de surveillance volontaire des lacs (RSVL) members. However, the information currently available concerns 765 lakes. A total of 204 bodies of water are considered to be of concern. Of these, 10 are considered hyper-eutrophic (worst stage) and 19 eutrophic (second worst stage).

The rating mentioned above scale has seven stages:

• ultra-oligotrophic
• oligotrophic
• oligo-mesotrophic
• mesotrophic
• meso-eutrophic
• eutrophic
• hyper-eutrophic

1.1. Where do these figures come from?

These figures come from the Réseau de surveillance volontaire des lacs (voluntary lake monitoring network). This is a program of the Ministère de l’Environnement that actively engages lakeshore residents in acquiring knowledge about water quality.

The data collected provides a better understanding of the dynamics and changing state of Quebec’s lakes. They play an essential role for the various watershed organizations and for those seeking solutions to preserve these bodies of water.

It is important to note, however, that lake quality monitoring is still based on a fragile foundation. It depends largely on the work of volunteers. Additionally, only a small fraction of Quebec’s 3.6 million freshwater bodies are subject to analysis, and around 35% of registered lakes are in the Laurentians.

2. Threats to Quebec’s lakes

Quebec’s lakes face a complex array of threats that jeopardize their fragile natural balance. These threats are vast and varied. Here is an overview.

2.1. Eutrophication

Eutrophication is the phenomenon whereby nutrients accumulate in an environment. It is a natural phenomenon that takes place over thousands of years, and becomes problematic when it occurs too rapidly. It is therefore important to distinguish between natural eutrophication, which takes place over thousands of years, and anthropogenic eutrophication, which takes place over a few decades.

The problem of anthropogenic (i.e. man-made) eutrophication occurs when excessive quantities of nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, are introduced into a lake in large quantities and very quickly. Typically, this is due to human activities such as agriculture, deforestation, the use of septic tanks and lawn fertilizers.

Eutrophication causes an extreme proliferation of aquatic plants, particularly algae, which consume the oxygen dissolved in the water. This can lead to the death of fish, plants and other aquatic organisms, seriously disrupting the lake’s ecosystem. Richard Carignan, a professor at the Université de Montréal, has extensively studied the accelerated eutrophication of lakes. According to him, about 10% of Quebec’s inhabited lakes are affected.

2.2 Cyanobacteria

Cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, represent another serious threat to Quebec lakes. They are particularly active when there is an excess of nutrients, i.e. when a lake is eutrophic or hyper-eutrophic.

When these micro-organisms proliferate too rapidly and reach high levels, they can produce toxins that are potentially dangerous to human and animal health. Swimming and other aquatic activities can no longer be practiced in these bodies of water. 

The number of reports of cyanobacteria made to the Ministère de l’Environnement by citizens rose from 61 to 265 between 2019 and 2021. That’s a leap of 334% in just two years. These reports testify to the growing prevalence of blue-green algae in Quebec lakes and the need for measures to control them.

2.3 Wastewater

Wastewater is another factor in the deterioration of Quebec’s lakes. Aging and inadequate wastewater management infrastructures can lead to untreated discharges of fecal matter and chemicals into lakes, contributing to water pollution.

Many experts are calling for investment in repairing and optimizing these infrastructures to reduce drinking water losses and untreated wastewater discharges into ecosystems. According to a study commissioned by Réseau Environnement, such a reduction would generate $324 million in profits and limit the deterioration of the environment and water throughout Quebec.

This is not just a municipal responsibility. Homeowners with septic systems on their property have a duty to maintain them and ensure they comply with environmental standards. That’s one of the reasons why eco-responsible wastewater treatment systems like Ecoflo are becoming increasingly popular.

3. Consequences of the deterioration of Quebec’s lakes

The state of Quebec’s lakes has a major impact on the quality of life of many species, including humans. 

3.1 Impact on biodiversity

When the state of lakes deteriorates due to eutrophication, cyanobacteria and other factors, aquatic biodiversity is jeopardized. The species of fish, invertebrates and aquatic plants that inhabit these ecosystems suffer from the lack of oxygen or the presence of toxins produced by cyanobacteria.

3.2. Impact on local communities

The quality of life of local communities is closely linked to the health of lakes. Local populations are affected in various ways. The state of lakes can make swimming and fishing less pleasant, if not impossible. Cyanobacteria can produce toxins that irritate the skin, eyes and throat. If ingested, contaminated water can cause stomach pains, fever, diarrhea and vomiting.

3.3 Economic impact

In addition to the environmental and social consequences, lake deterioration also has a significant economic impact. The collapse of lake-related industries such as fishing and tourism can mean the loss of jobs and income for many people.

The attractiveness of lakeside properties is also affected. Some homeowners have seen the value of their property drop by as much as 25% due to the poor health of their neighbouring lake.

Learn more about the consequences of water pollution.

Taking action to improve the state of Quebec’s lakes

All levels of government have a role to play in protecting lakes and water. This means investing in monitoring, infrastructure rehabilitation and watershed protection policies. This is what the Canadian Coalition for Healthy Waters is calling for. Protecting these precious ecosystems is a shared responsibility. There are many ways in which each of us can contribute to water preservation.

“The lakes of Quebec and Canada are a priceless natural treasure that deserves to be protected for future generations. It’s time to act collectively to ensure the health and sustainability of these vital ecosystems.” – Nan-B de Gaspé Beaubien

As of October 6, 2023, Dominique Monchamp of the De Gaspé Beaubien Foundation and Emily Hines of Forum for Leadership on Water (FLOW) have taken on the role of co-leaders for the Canadian Coalition for Healthy Waters. The entire Foundation team is proud of these nominations, which will further the work of the Coalition. Our thanks go to Andrew Stegemann of Our Living Waters, who has held the fort for the past two years. His work is in good hands and will continue to flourish.

A growing role for the Foundation in the Coalition

Thanks to its unique position linking Quebec to the rest of Canada, the de Gaspé Beaubien Foundation has played a leading role in the Coalition since its beginnings. In 2022, Dominique Monchamp was already a member of the Coalition’s steering committee; her involvement is now growing as she takes on the responsibilities that go with the role of co-leader.

Initially, her most important objective is to unite Canada’s stakeholders around water issues in order to convey a coherent message endorsed by all Coalition members. Her greatest assets will be listening to and respecting members to achieve this. Secondly, Dominique wants to ensure good communication between English-speaking and French-speaking Canada by overcoming linguistic and cultural barriers. Once again, sharing, openness and respect will be the values conveyed throughout her mandate.

“The members of the Foundation’s Board of Directors unanimously approved Dominique’s appointment as co-leader for the Coalition. The Foundation will also provide financial support for the Coalition’s activities. There’s strength in numbers, and the members of the Canadian Coalition for Healthy Waters understand this.” – Nan-B de Gaspé Beaubien

A word from our Executive Director

“The Canadian Coalition for Healthy Waters is a very important platform for rallying under a single voice the aspirations of field groups across Canada. I’m convinced that together, we’re stronger and can facilitate relations with the various levels of government. Our work for healthy waters, for the preservation and restoration of fresh water, is essential for all our futures.” – Dominique Monchamp, Executive Director, de Gaspé Beaubien Foundation, Senior Advisor, AquaAction, Coordinator, Canadian Coalition for Healthy Waters 

What is the Canadian Coalition for Healthy Waters?

The Canadian Coalition for Healthy Waters is a non-partisan alliance of organizations united in a common effort to preserve the health of Canada’s fresh waters, from inland waters to coastal shores. The de Gaspé Beaubien Foundation has been a proud member of the Canadian Coalition for Healthy Waters since its launch in 2021.

The Coalition explains: “This must be a collaborative effort that involves all levels of government, engages Canadians and draws on the wealth of scientific, ecological and traditional water knowledge of the population. The federal government has a leading role to play in this transformation, and the Canadian Coalition for Healthy Waters is united in its advocacy for assertive and appropriate federal leadership.”

The goal of the Canadian Coalition for Healthy Waters

The Coalition and its members want to reduce threats to freshwater across the country and encourage the preservation of healthy waters. For the organization, this means making three demands of the federal government.

The Coalition’s demands are clear:

1. Build a robust Canada Water Agency.
2. Renew the over 50 year old Canada Water Act.
3. Make a historic investment of $1 billion over 5 years in the Freshwater Action Plan.

If you are interested in the goals of the Canadian Coalition for Healthy Waters and would like to contribute to change, we encourage you to visit the website and register your organization to become a member of the Coalition.

Let’s unite for the future of water!

You don’t have an organization that could become a member of the Coalition, but you still share our motivation for water preservation? No problem. There are many other ways you can contribute to freshwater preservation. Support water organizations like AquaAction, use water wisely, and raise awareness among your family and friends… Every action counts!

Threats to our drinking water supplies include climate change, inadequate infrastructure and over-consumption. By working together, we can help preserve this vital resource before it’s too late. Let’s preserve our water sources, so that they remain pure and abundant, for present and future generations alike.