Bulk Water Exports: Should Canada Sell Its ‘Blue Gold’?
A Quebec think-tank, the Montreal Economic Institute, recently released a report encouraging bulk water exports from Canada to the United States. The report concludes that Quebec could sip on a cool $65 billion a year by selling just 10% of its ”renewable blue gold” to its thirsty and heavily urbanized southern neighbor. However, the report’s not just making waves in small economic circles, it’s rocking the already-unsteady boat of Canadian public opinion on US export policy.
Since the 1960’s, when Canadians learned of plans to privatize and divert large quantities of Canada’s water, many in the country have been wary that the US will view Canada as a “great, green sponge” and come after its water resources. They may not be far from the mark. Since he came into office, President Bush began using his dry home state of Texas in talks to push then Prime Minister Jean Chretien to turn on the tap of Canada’s water. Past US Ambassador to Canada, Paul Celucci, also made regular attempts to convince Canada that water should be a trade commodity, like oil. Moreover, in a time when much of the American public seems to rely on South Park for information about Canada, there’s very little understanding in the US about Canadians’ sensitivity over the issue of resource exports (and water exports in particular) to the United States.
