A SHORT HISTORY OF THE PARTNERSHIP FOR WATER SUSTAINABILITY: “British Columbia’s response to the National Action Plan to Encourage Municipal Water Use Efficiency defined our water sustainability journey during the 5-year period from 1992 through 1997,” states Kim Stephens
Note to Reader:
The early history of the Partnership for Water Sustainability in British Columbia is presented in the contextual document titled Celebration of Our Story: Genesis / First Decade / What Next, published in November 2020. The following article is the 5th in a series of extracts from this key document. The main takeaway is that the “National Action Plan to Encourage Municipal Water Use Efficiency” defined the period from 1992 through 1997.
British Columbia’s response to the National Action Plan
This extract from Celebration of Our Story covers the 5-year period from 1992 through 1997. The period was defined by the National Action Plan to Encourage Municipal Water Use Efficiency. Launched in 1994, this was an initiative of the Canadian Council of the Ministers of the Environment (CCME).
Same People, Different Hats
The B.C. Provincial Committee of the National Task Force, formed in fall 1994, merged with the re-named BCWWA Water Use Efficiency Committee (WUEC) in fall 1995. In practice, this meant that the same people would wear different hats depending on the meeting context. This resulted in efficient use of time.
Why a ‘Made in BC’ response was paramount
“A British Columbia concern was that the National Action Plan was being driven by Ontario, and there were ideological overtones that made the BC committee uncomfortable. Our discomfort was a galvanizing consideration in making the bold decision to hold a series of events in smaller BC centres,” explains Kim Stephens.
“Having province-wide representation imbued the committee with confidence, strength and credibility that we could move into a policy vacuum and speak on behalf of BC communities in a way that had not been done before.”
The National Action Plan resulted in a Defining Moment for Water Sustainability in British Columbia
“The National Action Plan provided us with a focus and a raison d’être for influencing water policy in British Columbia. The National Action Plan opened the door for the committee to carve out a leadership role vis-à-vis provincial water stewardship. It was a defining moment.”
“Years later, the experience we gained would prove essential and invaluable for implementation of the Water Sustainability Action Plan.”
“The CCME goal driving the National Action Plan was: achieve more efficient use of water in Canadian municipalities in order to save money and energy, delay or reduce expansion of existing water and wastewater systems, and conserve water.”
The BC provincial committee moved into a policy vacuum
“Our committee conceived and implemented a bold 3-year program of transformative conferences to develop a Made in BC response to the 1994 National Action Plan. Conferences were held in three cities in three regions: Rossland in 1995, Kamloops in 1996 and Nanaimo in 1997,” states Mike Tanner.
“So, what was the outcome? Prior to conclusion of the series, the Ministry of Environment appointed a Provincial Working Group to produce A Water Conservation Strategy for BC. Eric Bonham, Ted van der Gulik, Kim Stephens and I were all appointed.”
To Learn More:
To read the complete story about the early history of the Partnership, download a copy of Celebration of Our Story: Genesis / First Decade / What Next. It is structured in two part parts. Part One sketches an outline of many ideas and nuances about the work of The Partnership. Part Two is a deeper dive as shown in the storyboard below.
DOWNLOAD A COPY: https://waterbucket.ca/atp/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2020/11/PWSBC_Story-of-First-Decade_Nov-2020.pdf
