Eye View 

by David Charbonneau

Clean water should be no brainer

 

August 5, 2010

 


Canadians support clean water as a human right. Too bad our government doesn't. The United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly voted in favour of a resolution to recognize clean drinking water as a human right recently; but not Canada along with a minority of others who lamely abstained. Support of clean water seems like a no-brainer in terms of health alone. In the time it takes to read this sentence, a child somewhere in the world will die from drinking dirty water.

Water was omitted in the original U.N. Declaration of Rights in 1948 because no one imagined otherwise - - who would deny the necessity of water? Now, in a world of diminished fresh water supplies and a burgeoning population, what was once obvious must now be set in law.

Not only did Canada abstain; our government led opposition to progress on the right of water, even weakening the mandate of the independent expert appointed by the Human Rights Council of the U.N. says Maude Barlow, senior advisor to the General Assembly on water and chair of the Council of Canadians.

What does Canada gain from such obstructionist behavior? With the appalling exception of bad water on Canada's Indian reservations, we generally regard clean water as a god-given right. Not just Canadians, but people around the world regard access to clean water as vital. In a global survey of 15 countries sponsored by (of all people) Molson Coors, 91 per cent of respondents thought that the shortage of fresh water was a serious problem. If brewers are concerned enough about what goes into their beer to sponsor a world-wide survey, you would think governments would be more concerned about the water that goes into the mouths of children.

Not all governments are part of the problem; some see solutions. Canada's premiers and territorial leaders recently agreed on the importance of clean water at the Council of the Federation meeting in Manitoba. It's the feds who can't see what's plain to most Canadians.

I search for some reason why we should drag our feet on such an important issue. Would global Canadian businesses be negatively affected? While we have giant mining corporations digging up the globe, none are affected by making water a human right.

 

 In fact, the opposite seem true. The non-profit Canadian International Development Agency has spent $209 million on water and sanitation in the last four years; an indication that Canadians want clean water for all.

And privatization of water wasn't a barrier to support of the declaration for Chile, despite having a water supply has that been privatized since 1981.

Lacking any practical explanations, Canada's government can only be motivated by ideology. A clearer picture emerges when you look at the "club" of countries that Canada regularly votes with. It's the same club that also voted against the U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples; an alliance of Canada, the U.S., Britain, Australia and New Zealand. Again, Canada's government turned a deaf ear to those most affected. Despite opposition from Canada's Assembly of First Nations, then Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development Chuck Strahl feebly attacked the declaration as "unworkable in a Western democracy under a constitutional government." The response from Canadians First Nations was a demand that Canada resign its membership on the United Nations Human Rights Council.

The club of obstructionists takes its marching orders from the World Bank. They would prefer that land remain owned, not shared. They want water to become a commodity, not a right. They see rights to clean water as a barrier to the market model of development. Big money speaks for water utility companies, not for the citizens who voted them into office.

It's a pathetic club of narrow thinking and diminishing power. Canada's tiny voice and desperate attempt to win approval from its corporate masters is increasingly dismal and more removed from the wishes of ordinary Canadians. Those in favour of the declaration, including powerhouse countries such as China, India, Russia and Brazil represent 80 per cent of the world's population.

Canada should follow New Zealand's lead and speak for its own people. New Zealand has since changed its mind about support for the rights of Indigenous people and now backs the U.N. declaration. If a small country can boldly reflect the wishes of their citizens then surely Canada can by reflecting the conscience of Canadians.



 David Charbonneau is the owner of Trio Technical.
He can be reached at dcharbonneau13@shaw.ca
 





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