RMA made a response to Phase 2 of Environment and Protected Areas’ Water Availability Engagement.
On April 28, Environment and Protected Areas (EPA) announced the continuation of their engagement process on water management in Alberta. Through an online survey, discussion guide, and webinars to answer engagement questions, EPA sought input on specific aspects of water management based on input provided from the initial engagement period that occurred from late 2024 to early 2025, including:
- Streamlining decision making and regulatory processes for water licenses, amendments and transfers
- Enhancing water use information to support effective and transparent management of water by all users, including licensing and license transfers
- Enabling lower risk inter-basin transfers where it is safe and appropriate to do so
- Enabling the use of alternative water sources such as rainwater, storm water, wastewater etc.
Although the engagement process is informing potential amendments to the Water Act, the GOA committed to adhering to the Water For Life strategy, keeping the “First-In-Time, First-In-Right” system, not implementing changes that reduce current water allocations, not adding any new royalties or bulk or volumetric pricing for water, and maintaining approvals through special acts of the legislature for high-risk inter-basin water transfers (except during Cabinet-declared water emergencies under section 107 of the Water Act).
EPA’s survey closed on June 30, 2025. RMA responded to the survey, and to further clarify RMA’s “conditional” support for certain changes or our specific concerns outlined in the survey, RMA also made a written submission to EPA. Both of these documents are now available for members’ review.
Joseph Kay
Policy Advisor
587.689.5484
joseph@rmalberta.com