Wading into Uncertain Waters: Using Markets to Transfer Water Rights in Canada – Possibilities and Pitfalls

First-Time, First-in Right

“Canada's first-time, first-in right western water allocation systems entrenches inflexibilities and places insufficient weight on ecosystem needs or priority uses. Policy responses to emerging water challenges often include proposals to increase the use of market principles in water allocations,” states Linda Nowlan, Environmental Lawyer and former Faculty Research Associate, UBC Program on Water Governance.

“Water markets, to be successful, require basic instituitional and legal safeguards. In Canada, continued dialogue, increased udnerstanding of policy options, and careful ground rules are basic pre-requisites before any expansion of the role of markets as a water allocation tool should even be considered,” adds Oliver Brandes, Associate Director and Water Sustainability Project Leader, University of Victoria's POLIS Project on Ecological Governance.

To download and read the complete article published by the Journal of Environmental Law and Practice in August 2009, click on Wading into Uncertain Waters: Using Markets to Transfer Water Rights in Canada – Possibilities and Pitfalls.

Posted May 2010