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Water-Centric Planning

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CONVENING FOR ACTION IN THE COMOX VALLEY: British Columbia’s Living Water Smart program is a provincial strategy and shared responsibility – “The message is that we are rewarding good behaviour,” stated Glen Brown at the 2nd in the Comox Valley seminar series (October 2008)


“This is a provincial strategy; we must look at it as a shared responsibility. It is not one strategy; the Province has a number of strategies. The Province is looking at raising the bar as far as what we are trying to accomplish with standards and provincial legislation. We really have to look at how we develop land. Ultimately this requires leadership and champions on the ground,” stated Glen Brown.

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Living Water Smart: A Plan for Water Sustainability in British Columbia


Living Water Smart is a blueprint for cultural, environmental, industrial, community and agricultural change that will help safeguard the province’s water resources. Released by Environment Minister Barry Penner in June 2008, the plan commits to new actions and builds on existing efforts to protect and keep B.C.’s water healthy and secure. “Living Water Smart: British Columbia’s Water Plan lays out the vision and the steps needed to protect our rivers, lakes, streams and watersheds. This plan will make B.C. a leader in water stewardship,” said Minister Penner.

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Intensity Units: An Effective Approach to Regulate Greenhouse Gas Emissions?


“The debate about Climate Change has generated a policy war between proponents of “hard caps” versus those who favour “intensity unit” approaches to regulating discharges of greenhouse gases. The author argues that intensity units are an effective tool for measuring performance in reducing pollution and ensuring that the public interest is protected,” wrote Peter Krahn.

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Program on Water Governance Workshop Series: Sustainable Water Infrastructure Management in Canada


“My presentation was organized in three parts. First, I introduced the across-Canada audience to our BC adaptation of the ‘design with nature’ philosophy. Then I talked about Convening for Action on Vancouver Island to provide an example of new forms of governance. The third and final part dealt with the linkage of infrastructure to climate change and infrastructure. To capture audience attention and set a tone, I opened with a reference to Blue ecology and climate change, an article by Michael Blackstock,” stated Kim Stephens.

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Protecting Langley Township’s Groundwater Supply

When the Township of Langley hosted the second event in “Showcasing Green Infrastructure Innovation in Metro Vancouver: The 2007 Series”, groundwater aquifer protection was a focus because the Township relies on groundwater for almost half of its drinking water supply. This makes the Township and the City of White Rock unique amongst Metro Vancouver municipalities.

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Water Experts Propose Blueprint for Federal Action on Freshwater

“Changing the Flow: A Blueprint for Federal Action on Freshwater” builds on mounting calls for renewed federal action on water from a diverse range of groups and sectors. The report establishes what the Gordon Water Group believes is a compelling case for urgent actions to be undertaken by the Canadian federal government, and according to its authors, provides clear and concise direction through 25 recommended actions organized around seven priority areas:

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