Section 3: Canada Water Agency Overview - What we do

3.1 Integrated Policy and Program Approach: Freshwater Action Plan

Over a period of two years, from 2020-2022, comprehensive policy analysis and extensive public, stakeholder, and partner engagement led to the framework for a strengthened Freshwater Action Plan, which combines on-the-ground freshwater action (“Freshwater Ecosystem Initiatives” and “EcoAction”) with foundational work on policy, governance, partnerships with Indigenous peoples, science, and data (“Foundational Pillars”). Together, this integrated approach to addressing freshwater challenges and opportunities in Canada aims to improve water security from a social, economic, and environmental standpoint.

The strengthened Freshwater Action Plan is the organizing framework for most of the Canada Water Agency’s work. In Budget 2023, the federal government invested $650M over ten years to implement the strengthened Freshwater Action Plan. The majority of this funding is delivered by the Canada Water Agency, with a portion delivered by Environment and Climate Change Canada related to freshwater science and research.

Figure 3: Freshwater Action Plan

3.2 Freshwater Ecosystem Initiatives

One main element of the strengthened Freshwater Action Plan is to restore and protect water quality and ecosystem health across Canada through Freshwater Ecosystem Initiatives in eight nationally significant freshwater bodies: the Great Lakes, St. Lawrence River, Lake Winnipeg, Lake of the Woods, Fraser River, Mackenzie River, Wolastoq/Saint John River and Lake Simcoe.

Figure 4: Map of the eight Freshwater Ecosystem Initiatives

To respond to regional challenges and priorities in these waterbodies the Canada Water Agency works collaboratively with Indigenous partners, provinces and territories, and stakeholders to:

• Take action to restore and protect water quality and aquatic ecosystem health
• Advance science, monitoring (including supporting community-based monitoring) and the use of Indigenous knowledge to support decision-making and effective action
• Enhance governance to support improved collaboration with Indigenous partners, provinces and territories, and stakeholders
• Mobilize knowledge and reporting to measure progress towards results; and
• Improve climate change resiliency through on-the-ground action

3.2.1 Great Lakes

The Great Lakes, shared between Canada and the United States, form one of the world's largest freshwater ecosystems, holding 20% of the planet’s surface fresh water. This vital region is home to one in three Canadians and provides drinking water for one in four. It also supports 4,000 species of plants and animals, including rare and unique species found nowhere else. Beyond its ecological importance, if the Great Lakes region were its own country, it would have a GDP of over $8T annually, roughly 30% of the combined Canadian and U.S. economic activity, making it the third biggest economy in the world.

The Great Lakes continue to face pressures that impact water quality and ecosystem health. Cooperation with many partners in Canada and the U.S. is required for advancing shared Great Lakes priorities and ensuring collaboration with all levels of government, local authorities, Indigenous peoples, industry, non-governmental organizations and the public to restore and protect this vital ecosystem.

Between 1989 and 2022, Canada invested over $475M to support federal efforts in the restoration and protection of the Great Lakes. These previous investments have led to some key accomplishments including nutrient reductions, the restoration of three Areas of Concern, and the completion of all actions in two others. Under the strengthened Freshwater Action Plan, Canada is committing $420M in new funding over ten years in the Great Lakes Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative (FEI), starting in 2023/24, with a focus on accelerating Canada’s implementation of the Canada-U.S. Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA), and matching U.S. levels of ambition in Great Lakes restoration. 

This Great Lakes Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative investment will address key environmental challenges by: 

• Preventing toxic and nuisance algae
• Restoring water quality and ecosystem health in Areas of Concern
• Reducing harmful chemicals
• Improving the health of coastal areas
• Engaging Indigenous peoples in governance, stewardship and monitoring; and
• Engaging the public through community-based science

In 2024/25, the Canada Water Agency (CWA) is investing $76M over four years in support of 50 partner-led projects to support these program priorities. Applications are currently under review for the 2025/26 call for applications.

The Canada-U.S. GLWQA, first signed in 1972, formalizes commitments between countries to restore and protect the Great Lakes. It provides a framework for identifying shared priorities and coordinating actions to address threats and improve water quality and ecosystem health. The GLWQA was last updated in 2012 to enhance governance and approaches to science; build on past commitments to restore degraded Areas of Concern; address threats from excessive nutrients, chemicals of mutual concern, and discharges from vessels; and add new commitments to address significant challenges to water quality, including the threat from aquatic invasive species, climate change, and the loss of habitat and species. 

To help meet Canada's obligations under the GLWQA, the governments of Canada and Ontario cooperate and coordinate their activities to restore, protect and conserve Great Lakes water quality and ecosystem health through a series of Canada-Ontario Agreements, dating back to 1971. Canada and Ontario renewed their commitment to restore, protect and conserve the Great Lakes by signing the Canada-Ontario Agreement on Great Lakes Water Quality and Ecosystem Health (COA), 2021. The 2021 COA includes guiding principles, priority areas, and 13 Annexes (areas of focus) that outline how Canada and Ontario respond to existing or emerging priorities over the five-year span of the agreement. The current COA, 2021 expires in June 2026.  

2025 marks the end of a 3-year GLWQA management cycle and at this juncture the Agreement commits Canada and the U.S. to host the triennial Great Lakes Public Forum. The Forum provides an opportunity for Canada and the U.S. to discuss and receive public comments on the state of the lakes and binational priorities for science and action. The Forum also provides an opportunity for the International Joint Commission, the transboundary organization charged with tendering advice and recommendations to the two governments, to discuss and receive public input on progress under the Agreement. The next Forum will be hosted in the U.S. in late 2025 or early 2026. 

In advance of the Forum, Canada and the U.S. will release: the 2025 State of the Great Lakes report, with an overview of the status and trends of a suite of ecosystem indicators; draft 2026-2028 Binational Priorities for Science and Action, to guide the necessary science and actions for the next three years; and the 2025 Progress Report of the Parties, which documents binational and domestic activities and accomplishments of Canada and the U.S. over the last three years. 

Under the Great Lakes FEI, the CWA is undertaking innovative distinctions-based approaches to partnerships with First Nations (FN) and Métis on projects that will advance their participation in Great Lakes governance, monitoring, and stewardship. To minimize barriers and burdens associated with traditional application-based processes for funding, the CWA co-developed new funding approaches with Métis and FN. Multi-year funding agreements are now in place with Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO), Chiefs of Ontario (COO), and Anishinabek Nation (AN) to advance Canada’s commitments under the GLWQA and COA. Notably, funding agreements with COO and AN include provisions for the further distribution of funds to FN for on-the-ground projects that will focus on Great Lakes protection and restoration.   

3.2.2 St. Lawrence River

The St. Lawrence River is the third largest river system in North America and one of the world’s largest and busiest inland waterways. While much of the St. Lawrence falls within the provincial boundaries of Quebec, the St. Lawrence River watershed spans over 1,344,200 km² across two provinces and two states; more than 5.5 million Canadians live along its shores. The St. Lawrence River provides nearly 1,200 kilometres of navigable waters that link the Great Lakes and the heart of North America to the Atlantic Ocean, acting as a vital artery for Canada’s economy and supply chain. Today, the Great Lakes- St. Lawrence region is the industrial and agricultural heartland of both the United States and Canada, with a combined GDP of more than $8 trillion CAD annually, representing the third-largest economy in the world. 

The St. Lawrence River is home to several species of concern including threatened and endangered species such as Blanding’s turtle, and the river valley is a key part of the Atlantic Migratory Fly-Way, known as the main pathway for seasonal migration of many bird species. It is a unique, biologically rich ecosystem that includes ecologically important wetlands, like the Lake Saint-Pierre UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and the Miguasha Park UNESCO World Heritage Site.  

Between 1988 and 2023, Canada invested approximately $448M to support federal efforts (including significant industrial remediation prior to the 2000s) and collaboration with partners and stakeholders to restore the ecological health of the St. Lawrence River. Under the strengthened Freshwater Action Plan, the St. Lawrence Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative (FEI), is continuing to support partner-led actions to improve water quality, conserve biodiversity and promote sustainable use of the river.

In 2024/25, the Canada Water Agency is investing over $1.7M over three years to support partner-led projects to address the St. Lawrence FEI program priorities. The next call for applications is planned for the fall of 2025, for projects beginning in 2026/27.

The federal investment in the St. Lawrence River is guided by the Canada-Quebec Agreement on the St. Lawrence River, which was signed for a fifteen-year period from 2011 to 2026 and is renewed every five years. The agreement, referred to as the St. Lawrence Action Plan (SLAP), is a collaborative initiative between the governments of Canada and Quebec, initially established in 1988 to protect, conserve, and enhance the St. Lawrence River and its ecosystem. The current agreement (2021-2026) builds upon previous agreements and focuses on three main priorities:

• Biodiversity Conservation: Efforts are directed towards preserving and restoring habitats to support the rich diversity of species in the St. Lawrence ecosystem.
• Improved Water Quality: Initiatives aim to reduce pollution and enhance the overall health of the river’s water, addressing challenges such as contamination from various sources.
• Sustainable Use: Promoting practices that allow for the economic and recreational use of the river without compromising its ecological integrity.  

The SLAP continues to evolve, adapting to new challenges and pressures to ensure the long-term health and sustainability of the St. Lawrence River and its surrounding ecosystems. Its governance encourages local environmental actions through a collaborative approach that engages all stakeholders and fosters community involvement. Through its Community Interaction Program, the SLAP provides financial support for community-led projects that address key priorities for the St. Lawrence, such as improving water quality, erosion control through planting, enhancing habitat connectivity, and establishing buffer zones.

The Canada Water Agency (CWA) is working collaboratively with partners to advance scientific work to better understand water quality issues, such as excess nutrients, while supporting actions to improve water quality and restore and protect ecologically important aquatic habitats. Under the St. Lawrence FEI, the CWA has been working closely with Indigenous communities and organizations to advance partnerships in St. Lawrence restoration and protection.  

3.2.3 Lake Winnipeg

Lake Winnipeg is Canada’s sixth largest lake and the 11^th largest in the world. The lake and its watershed support a diverse range of economic, social, and environmental benefits including supporting the livelihoods and cultural practices of Indigenous communities. While Lake Winnipeg falls within the provincial boundaries of Manitoba, the Lake Winnipeg Basin, Canada’s second largest watershed, spans over 1 million km² across four provinces and four states and is home to over 6 million Canadians. Hydro-electric generation (~$600 million annually), fisheries ($23 million in 2022; 25% of Canada’s freshwater fishery with over 85% of commercial Indigenous fishers), recreation and tourism and agricultural production ($ 21 billion to Canada’s GDP in 2019) are significant contributors to Manitoba and Canada’s economy.

In 2013, the Global Nature Fund named Lake Winnipeg as the world’s most threatened lake of the year due to eutrophication and deteriorating ecosystem health. With agricultural land use occupying over 50% of the watershed, phosphorus loading continues to exceed the lake’s natural capacity to process nutrients, leading to large-scale algal blooms. Further, the health of Lake Winnipeg continues to be challenged by cumulative impacts of multiple stressors (e.g. excess nutrients, climate change, aquatic invasive species) and complexities (e.g. hydrology, cold climate) of the basin. 

Between 2007 and 2023, Canada invested approximately $63 million to support federal efforts (including science advancements) and collaboration with partners and stakeholders to restore the ecological health of Lake Winnipeg. Under the strengthened Freshwater Action Plan, the Lake Winnipeg Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative (FEI) is continuing to leverage science and mobilize knowledge to target nutrient reduction efforts, support partner-led actions to improve water quality while continuing to support collaboration and decision-making and enhancing engagement of Indigenous peoples.

In 2024/25, the Canada Water Agency (CWA) is investing $3.5M over two years to support partner-led projects to address program priorities. The 2025/26 call for applications closed in February 2025; applications are currently under review.

While half of the nutrients entering Lake Winnipeg originate from within Manitoba, the remainder originate from upstream jurisdiction with the Red River, which flows north originating in the United States, being the largest source of nutrients. In 2022, Canada and the United States approved nutrient (phosphorus and nitrogen) targets for the Red River at the international border. More recently, in 2024, Manitoba established nutrient targets (phosphorus and nitrogen) for Lake Winnipeg and its four main tributaries (Red, Saskatchewan, Winnipeg, and Dauphin rivers). These targets provide a foundation for jurisdictions to take action and measure progress. Achieving these targets will require sustained long-term efforts and commitments across the Basin.

The Canada Manitoba Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Respecting Lake Winnipeg and its Basin, first signed in 2010 and renewed in 2021, is a federal-provincial commitment to coordinate efforts to protect the water quality and ecosystem health of Lake Winnipeg for present and future generations.

The CWA co-chairs the MOU Steering Committee with Manitoba Environment and Climate Change (ECC). Federal partners include Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Health Canada, and Indigenous Services Canada. Provincial partners include Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Natural Resources and Indigenous Futures (Fisheries), and Manitoba Northern Relations. A Science Subsidiary Arrangement has also been developed under the MOU, to identify priorities and coordinate research and knowledge efforts to support decision making. 

Key partners in the Lake Winnipeg FEI are: 

• ECCC leads on federal science efforts with a focus to better understand the impacts of nutrient loading, climate variability and invasive species on the lake.  
• Federal and provincial partners (e.g., DFO, Manitoba ECC) conduct ongoing monitoring to help assess the status and track changes in the health of the basin. 
• The Lake Winnipeg Research Consortium maintains the only in-lake science platform (the MS Namao) that federal, provincial and academic scientists rely on to conduct their in-lake research and monitoring. 
• The Lake Winnipeg Foundation (LWF) leads a network of community-based monitoring in the watershed to identify phosphorus hotspots and report on trends.

3.2.4 Lake of the Woods

Lake of the Woods is a large transboundary lake that spans Ontario, Manitoba and the state of Minnesota. At 4,350 km², it is the 15th largest lake in Canada by surface area and provides drinking water for more than 700,000 people. The lake is an important natural and economic resource and supports a significant sport fishery and tourism sector in northwestern Ontario. The Lake of the Woods region is also culturally significant to the many Indigenous peoples living in the basin who depend on its resources. 

Toxic algae blooms caused by phosphorus pollution from past industrial practices, a growing population and agricultural development have caused significant degradation to water quality in the lake. Since the 1980s, the lake has experienced a sharp increase in toxin-producing harmful algal blooms. These harmful algal blooms threaten drinking water quality, increase costs associated with water treatment, adversely impact recreational activities, and degrade fish and wildlife habitat and populations. Further, as part of the Lake Winnipeg drainage basin, Lake of the Woods also contributes 15% of the phosphorus pollution entering Lake Winnipeg which also suffers from degraded water quality.

Between 2016 and 2023, Canada invested approximately $8.3M to support federal efforts develop science-based nutrient reduction targets, to restore and protect the ecological health of Lake of the Woods, and to support stakeholder engagement on the targets. Under the strengthened Freshwater Action Plan, the Lake of the Woods Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative (FEI), will continue to support actions on the ground to prevent toxic and nuisance algae to restore and protect water quality and the aquatic ecosystem health of the lake.

In 2024/25, the Canada Water Agency is investing $1.2M over three years to address challenges related to algal blooms in the lake. The next call for applications is expected in 2026 for projects beginning in fiscal year 2027-2028. 

The Lake of the Woods FEI investment will support partner-led projects that:

• Implement and evaluate the effectiveness of Best Management Practices and other approaches 
• Implement and evaluate innovative and new approaches or technologies 
• Develop new or enhanced watershed planning 
• Fill priority knowledge or data gaps 
• Enhance the capacity of Indigenous partners to participate in decision-making and take action to reduce phosphorus. 

Lake of the Woods exists within a complex jurisdictional landscape that requires engagement and coordination among governments at international, domestic, Indigenous and local levels, as well as with binational organizations (i.e., International Joint Commission). Improving the future health of the lake, through nutrient reduction targets and action, requires continued effective collaboration across agencies made possible by formal governance arrangements.

The Canada Water Agency actively engages with key research and resource management organizations and agencies from U.S. and Canada through the International Multi-Agency Arrangement. 

Domestically, the Lake of the Woods Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative is working with Ontario and Manitoba to identify common goals and priorities to support collaboration and coordination of efforts to address excess phosphorus and protect Lake of the Woods. The CWA is also looking to enhance the capacity of Indigenous peoples in the watershed to participate in related planning and implementation processes (e.g., development and/or participation on advisory or planning committees or other structures).  

Between 2016 and 2020, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) undertook an extensive science program to understand the causes and consequences of harmful algal blooms and determine the reduction in phosphorus required to achieve various water quality and ecosystem health improvements. The science program informed the development of a draft domestic phosphorus target (18.2% reduction of phosphorus from Canadian sources), and the CWA is working to confirm this target through engagements with partners, including local Indigenous communities of Treaty #3 and the Northwestern Ontario Métis Community.  

As a transboundary lake, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency approved the Minnesota domestic phosphorus load reduction target of 17.3% for Lake of the Woods in 2021. Since then, Minnesota has started to implement actions on the ground to achieve that target. 

3.2.5 Fraser River

The Fraser River is Canada’s 11^th longest river, and its basin is Canada’s 12^th largest watershed. It is home to over 3 million people (approx. 67% of British Columbia’s (BC) population) of which 2.8 million live within 100 kilometers of the mouth of the Fraser River near Vancouver. The basin generates nearly 10% of Canada’s GDP through a variety of sectors including forestry, mining, agriculture, manufacturing, communications and transportation among others. The Port of Vancouver, Canada’s largest port, is located at the mouth of the Fraser River and is a significant international transportation hub. The Lower Fraser River and its estuary is a globally significant ecosystem, serving as the most significant migratory waterfowl and shorebird habitat on Canada’s Pacific Coast. It also is one of the most productive salmon river systems in the world with the Pacific salmon industry contributing nearly $1 billion to Canada’s GDP. 

Budget 2023 identified the Fraser River as one of the eight waterbodies of national significance under the strengthened Freshwater Action Plan. The initial focus of this new Initiative will be on water quality and the protection of aquatic ecosystem health, watershed threat assessments, and state of the ecosystem reporting. These priorities have been informed by previous studies that identified the need for: 

• Improved understanding of the sources of contaminants and excess nutrients as well as, climate change impacts on freshwater ecosystem health; 
• Collaborative approaches for monitoring, knowledge creation and mobilization to inform decision-making and actions; and 
• Collaborative approaches for taking on the ground actions to reduce pollution from nutrients, contaminants, and sediments as well as reduce habitat loss and impairment. 

In 2024/25, the Canada Water Agency is investing $1.9M in targeted funding over two years to support foundational efforts and early actions by partners. The 2025/26 call for applications was launched in March 2025. 

Diverse perspectives from various partners and stakeholders including federal, provincial, local, and Indigenous governments, private sector, non-government organizations, academic institutions and philanthropic organizations from both Canada and the United States are informing the implementation efforts in the Fraser River basin to protect and restore water quality and ecosystem health. 

Collaborative watershed organizations in several sub-watersheds of the Fraser River basin including in the Nechako, Nicola, Shuswap, and Coquitlam watersheds are early partners that the Canada Water Agency has been working with in advancing foundational efforts through this new Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative. A strong community of environmental non-government and philanthropic organizations exists in BC, and is advancing policy issues and taking actions on environmental and freshwater protection and restoration throughout the province.

Approximately 100 First Nations have traditional territory within the Fraser River basin with only one (Tsawwassen First Nation) having a modern treaty. Many Indigenous Nations are negotiating land claims and/or self-government agreements with linkages to water and watershed management. The Province of BC is also exploring land and water management approaches including with the Tŝilhqot’in National Government and a consortium of five First Nations in the Nicola sub-watershed. Given the complexity of advancing collaborative watershed governance mechanisms with a wide range of rights-holders, several Indigenous-led organizations focusing on capacity-building have emerged as key partners to facilitate broader collaboration and shared interests within and across sub-watersheds. 

BC has partnered with Indigenous leadership across the province to establish the BC-First Nations Water Table to enable co-development of a BC Watershed Security Strategy and to provide a forum for addressing water and watershed security issues of concern between First Nations in BC and the Province through co-development and consensus. 

In the absence of mandated watershed authorities or other similar entities focusing on watershed management in BC, the CWA will continue to engage with partners including all levels of government to address ecosystem health challenges in the Fraser River. Efforts will include a focus on strengthening relationships with Indigenous peoples both directly through their communities and through Indigenous-led collaborative and capacity-building organizations.  

3.2.6 Mackenzie River

The Mackenzie River Basin is Canada’s largest watershed, covering approximately 1.8 million km² or 20% of Canada’s landmass, and it stretches across five provincial and territorial jurisdictions. The basin is sparsely populated, with approximately 400,000 people living primarily in remote, Indigenous communities comprised of diverse Indigenous Nations including Inuit, First Nations, and Métis. 

The basin is home to three large deltas: the Peace-Athabasca Delta (the largest freshwater inland river delta in North America), the Slave River Delta, and the Mackenzie River Delta. The Peace-Athabasca Delta is part of Wood Buffalo National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The basin is home to the Edéhzhíe National Wildlife Area that is co-designated as a Dehcho Protected Area (the first Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area established under the Pathway to Canada Target 1), and to Thaıdene Nëné, one of Canada’s largest Indigenous protected areas.

Budget 2023 identified the Mackenzie River as one of the eight waterbodies of national significance under the strengthened Freshwater Action Plan. The Canada Water Agency leads the delivery of the Mackenzie River Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative (FEI). In the Mackenzie River basin, key issues and concerns include: 

• Impacts on water quality and quantity mainly due to resource extraction and hydroelectric development;
• Climate change impacts on flow regimes and sediment loading, a consequence of melting permafrost; and
• Changes to biota due to a changing climate, aquatic species at risk and aquatic invasive species.

These basin-wide and cross-cutting issues are beyond the scope of a single jurisdiction to address. Collaborative efforts and partnerships are essential in addressing water quality issues and protecting and restoring aquatic ecosystem health in the river. 

The 2025/26 call for applications was launched in March 2025. Given the large geographic extent and the unique challenges in the Mackenzie River basin related to a changing climate, partnerships with local, regional and Indigenous governments and communities will be key. 

Under the new Mackenzie River FEI, priorities are informed through collaboration under an existing governance structure, the Mackenzie River Basin Board (MRBB), and through dialogue with provincial, territorial and Indigenous partners. The Board’s priorities are informed by the duties outlined in the Mackenzie River Basin Transboundary Waters Master Agreement signed in 1997 by the governments of Canada, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Yukon, and Northwest Territories. It commits the parties to common management principles, the development of Bilateral Water Management Agreements between provinces and/or territories and to report on the State of the Aquatic Environment.  

The MRBB includes 3 federal members (CWA, formerly ECCC; chair of the board), Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, and Parks Canada) and one Indigenous and one government member from each of the five provinces and territories. Together, the board members have identified shared priorities, such as supporting reconciliation and state of ecosystem health reporting, and these are included in the 2025-2035 MRBB Strategic Plan. 

Collaboration with provinces, territories and Indigenous partners, including through the MRBB, will be essential in advancing the priorities of this FEI. These collaborative opportunities will enable additional support of partner-led projects and other activities (e.g., monitoring and research) that will advance the achievement of results to protect and restore water quality and ecosystem health in the Mackenzie River. 

3.2.7 Wolastoq/Saint John River

The Wolastoq/Saint John River is a binational and inter-jurisdictional waterway with significant ecological, economic, and recreational value. A Canadian Heritage River, the Wolastoq/Saint John River is the largest river in the Maritime provinces, stretching over 600 km between Maine, Quebec, and New Brunswick (NB), before emptying into the Bay of Fundy. A 115 km stretch of the river represents the international boundary between Canada and the United States. The watershed is within the traditional territory of the Wolastoqey people, who maintain an inherent connection to the Wolastoq (meaning ‘the beautiful and bountiful river’).

Water quality and the ecological health of the watershed are negatively impacted by cumulative factors including forestry, agriculture, hydroelectricity production and urban expansion, and these environmental stresses are exacerbated by climate change. Impacts include localized high nutrient and bacteria levels leading to harmful algal blooms (cyanobacteria) and benthic mats; and elevated levels of harmful pollutants and contaminants of emerging concern leading to stress and decline in the health of freshwater ecosystems. 

Budget 2023 identified the Wolastoq/Saint John River as one of the eight waterbodies of national significance under the strengthened Freshwater Action Plan. The initial focus of this new initiative will be to improve water quality through the advancement of science and research (including monitoring), strengthen collaboration and partnerships, and take action to restore and protect water quality and ecosystem health.

Program priorities are:

• Actions on the ground to reduce nutrient loads to the river
• Better understanding of the impacts of excess nutrients and harmful pollutants; and
• Indigenous knowledge, capacity building and engagement in freshwater stewardship

In 2024/25, the Canada Water Agency (CWA) is investing over $1.5 million over three years to support partner-led projects to address program priorities. The 2025/26 call for applications was launched and closed in February 2025; and applications are currently under review.  

Recognizing there is no single governance mechanism for the watershed as a whole, addressing water quality challenges requires cooperation and collaboration among partners. Through the Wolastoq/Saint John River FEI, the CWA will advance collaborative opportunities with provincial, state, and federal departments, Indigenous communities and organizations, non-governmental organizations, academic institutions, and other partners and stakeholders on common priorities. 

The Wolastoq River Interim Statement of Cooperation was signed in 2017 by seven Wolastoqey Nations, five US federal agencies and Canada (ECCC - now represented by the CWA and DFO). The aspirational, Nation-to-Nation Statement commits signatories to cooperation and collaboration to address cultural and natural resource sustainability issues in the watershed. Recent efforts led by the CWA are focused on building and strengthening relationships across all partners with the goal on defining a common vision, goals and objectives for the Wolastoq/Saint John River.

3.2.8 Lake Simcoe

Lake Simcoe is the largest inland lake in southern Ontario after the Great Lakes. The watershed is 3,400km², covers 20 municipalities, and provides drinking water for 7 municipalities and hundreds of thousands of Canadians. The region is one of the fastest growing in Canada with a thriving recreation and tourism industry valued at over $200 Million. The watershed also contains significant natural, urban and agricultural systems including parts of the Oak Ridges Moraine and the Holland Marsh agricultural area.  

Excess phosphorus runoff from urban and agricultural sources has led to an increase in nuisance algal blooms in Lake Simcoe and is the most significant cause of degraded water quality in the lake. This issue is further exacerbated by invasive species and the effects of climate change. In addition, decomposition of excess algae within the lake causes depleted oxygen in deep waters which can affect the survival of coldwater fish species, such as Lake Trout and Lake Whitefish. 

Budget 2023 identified Lake Simcoe as one of the eight waterbodies of national significance under the strengthened Freshwater Action Plan. The initial focus of this new initiative will be to prevent toxic and nuisance algae by supporting innovation and implementing best management practices (BMPs) that reduce phosphorus loads to Lake Simcoe. CWA’s support is increasing participation in the application of phosphorus load reduction measures and promoting the broad uptake, application, and demonstration of new and innovative approaches to phosphorus management.

The Lake Simcoe FEI program priorities are to implement and evaluate innovative and new approaches or technologies to reduce phosphorus loads to Lake Simcoe; and to implement and evaluate the effectiveness of Best Management Practices (BMPs) and other approaches to reduce phosphorus loads to Lake Simcoe.  

In 2024/25, Canada is investing over $1.2M over three years to support partner-led projects to address program priorities. These projects focused on innovations to reduce phosphorus loads to the lake will benefit Canada writ large by demonstrating effective ways to manage excess phosphorus loads, an issue that is challenging many large and small freshwater ecosystems across Canada. The next call for applications is expected in 2026 for projects beginning in fiscal year 2027-2028. 

The management of Lake Simcoe and its watershed is led by the Province of Ontario, under the provincial Lake Simcoe Protection Act, 2008 and supporting provincial plans and strategies such as the Lake Simcoe Protection Plan, 2009 and Lake Simcoe Phosphorus Reduction Strategy, 2010. Together, these outline Ontario’s approach to protect and restore Lake Simcoe’s ecological health, including a provincial phosphorus load reduction target to improve habitat for the coldwater fish community and improve water quality.

Federal programming and investments for Lake Simcoe aim to complement actions and funding provided by the Province of Ontario. The CWA is working with the Province of Ontario to identify common goals and priorities to support collaboration and coordination of efforts to reduce phosphorus and protect Lake Simcoe. Innovative approaches and lessons learned from projects supported by the federal Lake Simcoe FEI program will benefit projects in other freshwater basins.

3.3 EcoAction Funding Program

The EcoAction Community Funding Program was initiated in 1996 to provide funding for community-based projects focused on climate change, clean water, clean air and nature. The aim of the program was to be responsive to evolving departmental and environmental imperatives. Since 2019, the program has focused on freshwater restoration and protection and through the Canada Water Agency (CWA) it will continue to deliver measurable environmental outcomes through partner-led freshwater actions.

Through EcoAction, Canada has invested $19.4 million since 2019 in 246 projects which engaged over 93,000 participants in freshwater projects. This achieved results such as the protection of 3,680 hectares of habitat, and over 16,000 hectares of shorelines protected, stabilized or improved. In 2024/25, the CWA is investing $4.9M over three years to support 55 partner-led projects to address program priorities.

Building on this success, a new Stream of EcoAction focusing on freshwater sustainability and innovation across Canada was launched in March 2025 and complements the existing Stream of EcoAction focused on community scale projects for local improvements and awareness.

• EcoAction Stream 1: Community-led Action across Canada is a national program that provides funding to smaller environmental non-government organizations, community groups and associations for community-led projects that engage Canadians to take on local action-based projects to improve freshwater quality and build the capacity of communities to sustain these activities in the future. The goal of Stream 1 is to fund projects that deliver tangible environmental results, engage communities in environmental improvements, increase environmental awareness and build capacity within communities.
• EcoAction Stream 2: Freshwater Sustainability and Innovation across Canada is a national program that focuses on piloting innovative or clean technology solutions to improve freshwater quality or ecosystem health, enabling circular economy opportunities that achieve environmental and economic co-benefits, and addressing data challenges to enable better informed decision-making and actions related to freshwater management. Eligible applicants include non-profit organizations, Indigenous peoples, local government, and small for-profit entities. Projects should be of national relevance and/or national in scope, be of relevance to multiple locations within Canada, or be a localized initiative that could be scaled up to have national relevance.

A call for application is used for both streams to solicit project ideas with the call for applications for 25/26 launched in February (Stream 1) and closing March 25, 2025, and Stream 2 launched in March and closing April 10, 2025.

EcoAction has been an effective mechanism for engaging Canadians from coast-to-coast-to-coast in freshwater actions that achieve measurable environmental results. Projects that are funded also need to demonstrate strong community involvement and support. In recent years, efforts have been made to increase interest by and engagement with Indigenous peoples, youth and/or partnerships with small businesses.

3.4 Domestic and Transboundary Water Boards

Responsibilities for transboundary waters are shared across multiple departments and agencies within the Government of Canada, including Global Affairs Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) and the Canada Water Agency (CWA). The CWA has multiple responsibilities for both domestic and binational waters. Longstanding water agreements are the foundation of transboundary water-focused collaborative efforts and management. Both ECCC and the CWA’s authorities to enter into domestic inter-jurisdictional agreements have been granted through the Canada Water Act. 

The CWA leads on several transboundary water collaborative arrangements. On the domestic side, key responsibilities include the Prairie Provinces Water Board (PPWB) and the Mackenzie River Watershed Board (MRBB).

Binational water cooperation and coordination through boards and other governance mechanisms is an effective vehicle for proactively resolving issues related to freshwater management between Canada and the U.S. The CWA’s key responsibilities related to binational cooperation include the International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Board, the International Red River Watershed Board (IRRWB) and the Poplar River Bilateral Monitoring Committee (PRBMC). The CWA also participates as a member on the International Joint Commission’s (IJC) Great Lakes Water Quality Board. 

Domestic Water Boards 

Prairie Provinces Water Board 

The Prairie Provinces Water Board (PPWB) is a long-standing (56 years+) governance mechanism for the collaborative management of transboundary waters in the Canadian Prairies. The PPWB administers the Master Agreement on Apportionment (MAA) signed by the governments of Canada, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba in 1969. The MAA ensures equitable use and protection of water quality in rivers and streams that flow eastward between provinces and its key responsibilities include:  

• Reporting on the protection and equitable apportionment of water in accordance with the Master Agreement on Apportionment 
• Providing a forum for exchange of information to prevent and resolve transboundary conflicts; and  
• Promoting cooperation in transboundary water management

The PPWB computes apportionable flows at 12 transboundary sites based on various hydrometric meteorological and water use data. Both ECCC and various provincial agencies (e.g. Saskatchewan Water Security Agency), are responsible for monitoring and providing water quality and quantity data to the Prairie Provinces Water Board to carry out its work.

The Board consists of five members with two representing Canada (CWA, formerly ECCC, and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada) and one each representing Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Board members are senior officials engaged in the administration of water resources in their jurisdiction. The CWA serves as chair and hosts the Secretariat of the PPWB. While the PPWB does not have legislative enforcement powers, it serves as an effective forum for interjurisdictional cooperation, proactive discussion and potential conflict resolution.

Mackenzie River Basin Board

The Mackenzie River Basin Board (MRBB) was established in 1997 when the Mackenzie River Basin Transboundary Waters Master Agreement (Master Agreement) was signed by the governments of Canada, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Yukon and Northwest Territories. The Master Agreement established common principles for the cooperative management of the aquatic ecosystem of the Mackenzie River Basin and made provisions for Bilateral Water Management Agreements. The Master Agreement commits the parties to the following principles:  

• Manage the water resources in a manner consistent with the maintenance of the ecological integrity of the aquatic ecosystem
• Manage the use of the water resources in a sustainable manner for present and future generations
• Allow each Party to the Agreement to use or manage the use of water resources within its jurisdiction provided such use does not unreasonably harm the ecological integrity of the aquatic ecosystem in any other jurisdiction
• Provide for early and effective consultation, notification and sharing of information on developments and activities that might affect the ecological integrity of the aquatic ecosystem in another jurisdiction; and  
• Resolve issues in a cooperative and harmonious manner

The MRBB administers the implementation of the agreement and consists of thirteen (13) members including one Indigenous and one government member appointed by each of the five provincial and territorial governments and three federal government members representing the CWA (formerly ECCC), Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, and the Parks Canada Agency. MRBB members include First Nations, Metis and Inuit representatives that are Senior Executive Water Managers from their respective governments and Nations. The CWA serves as chair and hosts the secretariat of the MRBB. While the MRBB is not a regulatory board and does not have legislative enforcement powers, it serves as an effective vehicle of multijurisdictional collaboration for the protection of the Mackenzie River.

Binational Collaboration

In 1909, the federal governments of Canada and the United States signed the Boundary Waters Treaty to help prevent and resolve disputes over the use of waters shared by the two countries. This Treaty also created the International Joint Commission (IJC), which serves to help the two countries carry out the provisions of the Treaty. Over the decades, the IJC has created watershed boards, water control boards and committees to further cooperative discussions and work on the transboundary waters shared by the two countries. 

Early work and recommendations of the IJC on Great Lakes water quality issues to Canada and the U.S. influenced the development of the first Canada-U.S. Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement signed in 1972. 

The CWA leads the implementation of the current 2012 Canada-U.S. Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA) on behalf of the Government of Canada (see further details at 3.2.1). Under the 2012 GLWQA, the IJC is primarily responsible for evaluating efforts to restore the Great Lakes ecosystem, engaging the public on their perspectives of Great Lakes health, and assessing Canada and the U.S.’s implementation of the Agreement and providing advice and recommendations.

The CWA has varying roles and responsibilities in IJC boards and committees across Canada, including the Great Lakes. 

IJC’s Great Lakes Water Quality Board

The Great Lakes Water Quality Board (GLWQB), with its diverse group of members, is well positioned to be the principal advisor to the IJC on matters related to the IJC’s responsibilities under the 2012 Canada-U.S. Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. The Board has been effective in assisting the IJC by reviewing and assessing the progress of Canada and the U.S. in implementing the Agreement, identifying emerging issues and recommending strategies and approaches for preventing and resolving complex challenges facing the Great Lakes, and providing advice on the role of relevant jurisdictions to implement these strategies and approaches. The Board is comprised of almost 30 members from Canada and the U.S. representing various federal, provincial/State agencies, Indigenous peoples, local government, industry, academia and the public. The CWA is a member of the IJC’s Great Lakes Water Quality Board.

The Great Lakes Water Quality Board, with its diverse group of members, is well positioned to be the principal advisor to the IJC on matters related to the Commission’s responsibilities under the 2012 Canada-U.S. Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. The Board has been effective in reviewing and assessing progress of Canada and the U.S. in implementation of the Agreement; identifying emerging issues and recommending strategies and approaches for preventing and resolving the complex challenges facing the Great Lakes; and providing advice on the role of relevant jurisdictions to implement these strategies and approaches.

International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Board

The International Rainy-Lake Watershed Board (IRLWWB) is an IJC Board comprised of 20 members from Canada and the U.S. representing various agencies, stakeholders and Indigenous, Tribal and Métis communities in the watershed. The Board is one of four designated watershed Boards across the Canada-U.S. transboundary and is responsible for coordinating water level management in the Rainy and Namakan chain of lakes, reviewing and reporting on water quality and the health of aquatic ecosystem health in Rainy-Lake of the Woods and advising the IJC on matters regarding the management of boundary waters in the basin.

The Rainy-Lake of the Woods watershed is shared between Ontario, Manitoba, and Minnesota. Waters within this transboundary watershed flow westward from the Great Lakes basin, divided through the Rainy River and finally into Lake of the Woods. The water exits Lake of the Woods at the north end of the lake, in Kenora, Ontario and flows into the Winnipeg River and ultimately into Lake Winnipeg. Water level management in this basin is complex, with responsibilities shared between various agencies on both sides of the border.

The Board delivers its mandate through four committees (Water Levels, Adaptive Management, Aquatic Ecosystem Health and Engagement), two advisory groups (Industry and Community) and an International Watershed Coordination (IWC) program. The IWC program is a collaboration between the IJC and the Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation, which seeks to coordinate research, management and civic engagement initiatives across the basin.

The Board advises the IJC on matters related to the water level management in the Rainy and Namakan chain of lakes and water quality in the Rainy-Lake of the Woods basin. The Board has been effective in identifying and investigating emerging issues, promoting binational coordination, and recommending strategies to approach complex challenges facing the watershed. The CWA serves as the Canadian Co-chair of the Board and provides the secretariat to support Board operations and work.

International Red River Watershed Board 

The International Red River Watershed Board (IRRWB), which consists of just over 20 members from Canada and the United States, facilitates binational collaboration and coordination on freshwater in the Red River Basin. It is one of only four designated watershed boards with a broad mandate to focus on all aquatic ecosystem aspects. The Board is supported by four committees (Hydrology, Water Quality, Aquatic Ecosystems, and Outreach and Engagement) and one task team (Indigenous Collaboration). The CWA serves as the Canadian Co-chair of the board and provides the secretariat to support the work of the board.

The Red River flows north from its headwaters in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, across the international boundary, and discharges into Lake Winnipeg in Manitoba. The basin’s hydrology is complex including a high variability in streamflow and a broad and flat river valley that is prone to flooding and drought. Water quality issues pose additional challenges throughout the basin. Dozens of government agencies and organizations have management responsibilities or interests, including Indigenous nations on both sides of the border.

The IRRWB is an effective mechanism that facilitates binational collaboration and coordination on fresh water in the Red River Basin. This includes discussions related to long-standing concerns of inter-basin transfer of water and ensuring that the water quality objectives and standards are met. Water quality is a key priority of the IRRWB.

Poplar River Bilateral Monitoring Committee 

The Poplar River Bilateral Monitoring Committee monitors and oversees the adherence to the proposed apportionment and quality of water from the river, which has to date been voluntarily respected by all parties (Canada, U.S., Saskatchewan, Montana). As climate change continues to influence extreme events in the Prairies, agreements like this one will be critical for freshwater management in this region.

The Poplar River is a small watershed in the Canadian Prairies. The headwaters are in south-central Saskatchewan and the waters flow south into the state of Montana as a tributary to the Missouri River. The Poplar River watershed has been subject to IJC References and Orders, most notably in 1948 and 1977. In 1980, Canada and the United States created the Poplar River Bilateral Monitoring Committee (PRBMC) in response to a recommendation by the IJC. The Committee monitors and oversees the apportionment of water from the river, and also monitors groundwater, water and air quality.

3.5 Foundational Pillars

The strengthened Freshwater Action Plan (FWAP) integrates foundational pillars to advance federal leadership on fresh water and to support the Freshwater Ecosystem Initiatives. These freshwater pillars include policy leadership, governance, partnerships with Indigenous peoples, science, and data.  

3.5.1 Policy Leadership

The policy leadership pillar aims to develop whole-of-government solutions to freshwater challenges and undertake forward-looking analysis to understand, plan, and prepare for ongoing and emerging freshwater issues. The Canada Water Agency (CWA) works with others to develop whole-of-federal government solutions to freshwater challenges and supports freshwater decision-making through policy advice. To this end, the CWA undertakes extensive policy research and analysis to support the CWA’s role as a credible and authoritative federal voice on fresh water. The CWA maintains an awareness of current and emerging issues, engages with key partners, both internal and external to the Government of Canada, and coordinates whole-of-federal government thinking. CWA policy leadership includes innovative forward-looking policy research, medium-term planning, analysis to support a review of the Canada Water Act, Cabinet and Parliamentary Affairs, and supporting the Government of Canada in international freshwater fora.

Innovative Policy Research

In order to maintain its role as a credible and authoritative federal voice on fresh water, the CWA undertakes policy research on an ongoing basis to maintain awareness of current and emerging issues, best practices, and government initiatives. This involves issue tracking and monitoring, as well as proactive collaboration and coordination across the Government of Canada. The CWA’s policy research is also supported through the use of innovative approaches such as futures and foresight methods, as well as behavioural science work.

Futures and Foresight

The CWA leverages futures and foresight methods to facilitate long-term thinking. These methods allow the CWA to envision desired freshwater futures, while foresight provides a pathway to arrive at those futures. Adopting a long-term focus helps ensure that today's decisions support the sustainable management and protection of fresh water for generations to come.

Behavioural Science

The CWA has been working with the Program of Applied Research on Climate Action in Canada (PARCA) through the Privy Council Office (PCO) to leverage behavioural science data and insights to inform policy work. The integration of behavioural science evidence leads to a better understanding of Canadians, improving the effectiveness of policy recommendations. For example, the CWA worked with PARCA to develop survey questions related to water consumption and drought to provide insights into the experiences, perceptions and attitudes of Canadians toward drought, an emerging topic of concern of many jurisdictions in Canada.

Medium-Term Planning

The CWA is leading in the development of evidence-based advice to decision makers in the medium term. The goal is to develop whole-of-federal government, coordinated approaches to respond to freshwater challenges and opportunities in Canada and to inform future CWA priorities, while ensuring alignment with broader Government of Canada priorities.

Canada Water Act Review 

In 2019, the federal Minister of Environment was directed to “advance the modernization of the Canada Water Act to reflect Canada’s freshwater reality, including climate change and Indigenous rights.”

The CWA has been leading pre-engagement activities with key partners to understand how they want to be engaged in this process. The CWA has been meeting with provincial and territorial governments, as well as Indigenous partners, including National Indigenous Organizations, Indigenous provincial and territorial organizations, modern treaty and self-governing nations, and an Indigenous Grassroots Water Circle.

The CWA has also been conducting research on the Canada Water Act. Research themes have included how the Act addresses or could address key issues such as climate resilience, Indigenous rights, assessing the advisory and reporting mechanisms established under the Act, and ensuring that the Act remains effective.  

Cabinet and Parliamentary Affairs

The CWA’s Cabinet Affairs Team leads on all Cabinet business for the CWA, including liaising with Central Agencies, Memoranda to Cabinet, Treasury Board Submissions, budget requests, etc. The team also contributes to Parliamentary files, such as preparing submissions for the Freshwater Study conducted by the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development.

International Freshwater Initiatives (Multilateral Fora)

The CWA works on targeted freshwater-related international initiatives in multilateral fora (e.g., United Nations), in coordination with Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) and Global Affairs Canada (GAC). In this role, the CWA seeks to coordinate across the Government of Canada, as well as represent Canada’s interests in international freshwater forums and play a constructive role in ongoing international efforts to address global freshwater challenges.

This provides opportunities for Canada to share knowledge and experience in support of domestic policy work. Prior to CWA creation, the CWA Transition Office within ECCC led the Government of Canada’s Delegation to the 2023 United Nations Water Conference (the first United Nations Conference on water since 1977). Looking forward, the CWA is involved in preparations for the 2026 United Nations Water Conference to be held in the United Arab Emirates in December 2026.

The CWA also engages bilaterally with a range of other countries on fresh water, including to share information. For example, the CWA recently held a series of bilateral information exchange with the government of Australia on the topics of freshwater legislation; collaboration with Indigenous peoples; collaboration across jurisdictions and citizen engagement; and data. The CWA, ECCC, and GAC are involved in Canada-United States bilateral relations through relationships with the International Joint Commission and their board and committees and through binational agreements.

3.5.2 Governance

The governance pillar aims to build a coordinated approach to freshwater governance within the federal government and reduce jurisdictional fragmentation through enhanced mechanisms for national freshwater collaboration between governments and Canadians.

Federal coordination and collaboration

The CWA leads multiple initiatives to improve federal coordination and collaboration on fresh water. The CWA strives to bring a whole-of-federal government approach to all its initiatives.

Two key initiatives are focused on strengthening cohesion, coordination, and information sharing between federal departments and agencies: the Federal Freshwater Committee and the Federal Freshwater Hub. A third initiative, the Water One Window, seeks to present a more coordinated federal approach to water externally to partners and stakeholders.

The Federal Freshwater Committee

The Federal Freshwater Committee (FFC) brings together senior management from 26 federal departments and agencies with freshwater-related activities and is chaired by the CWA. The FFC provides a forum for strategic federal discussions on freshwater priorities; promotes an integrated voice on fresh water; engages in strategic discussions on federal freshwater priorities; and works to align freshwater actions, policies, and spending.

The FFC was first established temporarily in 2020 to guide the implementation of the Government of Canada’s freshwater agenda and the creation of the new CWA. This committee was expanded and made permanent in 2023 to include members from all federal departments and agencies with freshwater-related responsibilities.

The Federal Freshwater Hub

The Federal Freshwater Hub (the Hub) brings together staff members from federal organizations with significant freshwater-related work and co-locates them within the CWA. These employees rotate into the Hub for one or two-year periods and act as direct links with their home organization. They work to strengthen relationships across federal departments/agencies, provide subject matter expertise and develop integrated solutions to freshwater challenges.

The Hub aims to improve coordination on federal freshwater work and build whole-of-federal government approaches to freshwater challenges. In its inaugural 2024-2025 year, the Hub hosted representatives from Natural Resources Canada, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Statistics Canada, and Indigenous Services Canada. In 2025-2026, the Hub is expected to continue hosting representatives from these departments plus ECCC.

Water One Window

The Water One Window (WOW) provides a centralized web presence on the CWA website for Canadians to easily access federal freshwater data, programs, services, reports, and other information via links to the webpages of other federal departments and agencies.

A key part of the CWA’s mandate is to be a convenor, bringing partners and stakeholders together to build coordinated and collaborative approaches to freshwater challenges and opportunities.

External Coordination and Collaboration

The CWA leads external engagement and coordination with provinces, territories, Indigenous partners (see further details under 3.5.3), and stakeholders to support the identification and assessment of freshwater priorities, coordination of collaborative approaches, and facilitation of information sharing.

Provinces and Territories

Water governance in Canada is a shared responsibility between federal, provincial, territorial, and Indigenous governments (see further details under 1.2).

The Canada Water Act enables the Minister of Environment to enter into cooperative arrangements with provincial and territorial governments to address water management issues. The Minister also has mechanisms to enter into arrangements with Indigenous partners.

As detailed in tab 3.2, the CWA leads the delivery of Freshwater Ecosystem Initiatives to support regionally specific initiatives to restore and protect water quality and ecosystem health in collaboration with partners, including, provinces, territories, Indigenous partners, and stakeholders. In several FEIs, this approach is formalized through agreements and MOUs with provincial governments (such as the Canada-Quebec Agreement, the Canada Manitoba Memorandum of Understanding Respecting Lake Winnipeg and its Basin, the Canada-U.S. Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, and the Canada-Ontario Agreement).  CWA also has multiple responsibilities for both domestic and binational water boards, including key responsibilities with the Prairie Provinces Water Board (PPWB) and the Mackenzie River Watershed Board (MRBB).

The PPWB is a long-standing governance mechanism - signed in 1969 for the collaborative management of transboundary waters in the Canadian Prairies. The MRBB is a governance mechanism established in 1997 by the governments of Canada, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Yukon and Northwest Territories for the cooperative management of the aquatic ecosystem of the Mackenzie River Basin.

Beyond the FEIs, recent bilateral engagement with provinces and territories on national-level freshwater issues began in 2020, with engagement on the creation of the CWA through a CWA Transition Office.

Since then, the CWA has also initiated pre-engagement discussions with provinces and territories on two national-level files: a review of the Canada Water Act and development of a National Freshwater Data Strategy.

The CWA also engages with provinces and territories multilaterally through the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME). The CCME is the primary collaborative institution through which federal-provincial-territorial (FPT) governments discuss and act on common approaches to environmental priorities, including water. Under the CCME, eight working groups were established to tackle specific issues, including the Water Management Committee (WMC). The WMC, currently co-chaired by a CWA official, and a counterpart in British Columbia, is responsible for managing intergovernmental approaches to water issues in the country.

Stakeholders (municipalities, industry, academia, non-governmental organizations)

The CWA is committed to nationwide, multi-stakeholder engagement, ensuring industry, academia, NGOs, and all orders of government contribute to evidence-based freshwater policies.

In December 2020, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) released a public discussion paper to support the creation of the CWA. Input was received from individuals, municipal government representatives, non-government organizations, industry representatives, academia and Indigenous peoples over a 75-day period (see further details under section 4).

Senior executives within the CWA regularly meet with a wide variety of stakeholders and partners.

To facilitate more targeted ongoing stakeholder engagement and benefit from expert input, the CWA is piloting President’s Freshwater Tables (the ‘President’s Tables’). The first President’s Table took place on February 28, 2025, on the topic of Water Technology Innovation. Future President’s Tables would explore other topics.

3.5.3 Partnerships with Indigenous peoples

The Indigenous partnerships pillar seeks to strengthen the CWA’s relationships with Indigenous partners and advance Indigenous leadership in freshwater management.

The CWA recognizes the diversity of Indigenous peoples’ rights and interests related to fresh water, values Indigenous Knowledge Systems, and promotes Indigenous stewardship and protection of fresh water. From 2020 to 2023, the CWA Transition Office engaged First Nations, Inuit, and Métis partners to inform the CWA’s mandate and priorities during its creation. This engagement has shaped the CWA’s approach to Indigenous collaboration going forward.

Engagement with Indigenous partners is a long-standing element of the Freshwater Ecosystem Initiatives and is ongoing (see further details under 3.2). To facilitate Indigenous participation, the CWA has provided financial support for Indigenous-led actions, such as Indigenous community-based monitoring; the use of Indigenous Knowledge systems to guide local efforts; and increased partnerships, collaboration, and shared decision-making.

The CWA has also initiated pre-engagement with Indigenous partners as part of a review of the Canada Water Act and the development of a National Freshwater Data Strategy.

3.5.4 Science

The enabling science pillar builds on successful freshwater science activities to support sustainable freshwater management and ensure that activities meet the needs of decision-makers and Canadians.

National Freshwater Science Agenda

To help support strengthened evidence-based decisions for the management and protection of fresh water in Canada, ECCC’s Science and Technology Branch (STB) is leading development of a National Freshwater Science Agenda (NFSA) under the strengthened Freshwater Action Plan. The NFSA is intended to guide science providers, knowledge holders, and investors in shaping the planning, coordination, collaboration, knowledge mobilization, and investment in freshwater science across Canada.

Although the NFSA will be national in scope, it will also reflect the fact that freshwater science needs to respond to differing regional challenges. The NFSA will be inclusive, integrating input from federal, provincial, territorial (FPT), and Indigenous governments, non-government organizations, subject matter experts, science-users, and funders. It will also weave western science and Indigenous science and knowledge systems. 

The development of the NFSA has included targeted engagement through 2024 with dedicated conversations and listening opportunities with Indigenous organizations and Self-Governing and Treaty Nations; FPT governments; academia; non-government organizations and some private sector.

The Canada Water Agency (CWA) has been providing input into the drafting process for the NFSA, with a view to ensure that the proposed NFSA science-policy context and draft science priorities align with and reinforce the freshwater mandate and activities of the CWA. 

The drafting of the NFSA continues with a final version expected in 2025.

3.5.5 Data

The essential data pillar aims to establish common principles and approaches to increase freshwater data access and make it easier to integrate data from multiple sources so that the best available data supports the best possible decision-making in freshwater management.

National Freshwater Data Strategy

The Canada Water Agency (CWA) is collaboratively developing a National Freshwater Data Strategy (NFDS) to establish guidelines and principles for how freshwater information should be organized, stored, and shared in Canada. The Strategy aims to collate and integrate fragmented data across multiple entities (federal government, provinces, territories, municipalities, Indigenous communities, academia, industry) and standardize approaches for managing and sharing freshwater data.

Once implemented, the Strategy will make it easier for Canadians to find and access freshwater data, as well as use and combine data from various sources.  This, in turn, will strengthen decision-making and knowledge generation and will help keep fresh water safe, clean, and well-managed.

The Strategy will build on existing data systems, data science, and analytics expertise through collaboration with partners and stakeholders. It will align with broader federal data efforts, including the Government of Canada’s Digital Ambition and the 2023–2026 Data Strategy for the Federal Public Service, while protecting Indigenous data sovereignty.

The CWA has been engaging partners and stakeholders from across governments, academia, industry, and Indigenous communities on the development of the Strategy. A framework discussion paper has been developed articulating the vision of a national freshwater data strategy to support engagement.

The first NFDS engagement workshop took place September 25-26, 2024, at the Canada Centre for Inland Waters in Burlington, Ontario. Over one hundred participants attended to discuss freshwater challenges, opportunities and solutions. A summary document was published to share the highlights of the event. 

The CWA is working toward a first draft of the Strategy for comments and feedback later in 2025.