FLASHBACK TO 2010: “The partnership umbrella provided by the Water Sustainability Action Plan has allowed the Province to leverage partnerships to greatly enhance the profile and resulting impact of Living Water Smart,” stated Lynn Kriwoken of the BC Ministry of Environment (article in Environmental Science & Engineering Magazine)
Note to Reader:
The January 2010 issue of Environmental Science & Engineering Magazine included an article about the policy framework put in place by the Province of British Columbia that enables local governments to commit to doing business differently. Written by Kim Stephens, Program Coordinator for the Water Sustainability Action Plan, the article drew on the perspectives of:
- Lynn Kriwoken– Director, Ministry of Environment
- Glen Brown– Executive Director, Ministry of Community & Rural Development
- John Finnie – General Manager, Regional and Community Utilities, Regional District of Nanaimo
- Tim Pringle – Special Programs Director, Real Estate Foundation of BC
- Eric Bonham – Director (retired), Ministries of Environment and Municipal Affairs
The article described how implementation of Living Water Smart, British Columbia’s Water Plan and the Green Communities Initiative was being advanced through partnerships, in particular the Water Sustainability Action Plan for British Columbia
Pathway to Urban Water Sustainability in British Columbia
The article stated that the program goals for Living Water Smart, BC’s Water Plan and the companion Green Communities Initiative constituted a ‘call to action’ on the part of British Columbians to manage settlement change in balance with ecology.
Green Development Makes Sense
“Living Water Smart and the Green Communities Initiative must be viewed as an integrated package. Living Water Smart presents the vision, and the Green Communities Initiative provides enabling tools to achieve the vision. The solutions and commitments go beyond what government does. Living Water Smart supports planning that is as much about land as water,” stated Tim Pringle.
“Living Water Smart contains a key message – green development makes sense. Fostering new thinking about development leads to more green spaces, more water and fish in streams, improved community vitality, reduced demand for water, and reduced expenditure on infrastructure,” continued Lynn Kriwoken.
“Implementation of Living Water Smart and the Green Communities Initiative is being advanced through partnerships, in particular the Water Sustainability Action Plan for British Columbia,” added Glen Brown.
“The partnership umbrella provided by the Water Sustainability Action Plan has allowed the Province to leverage partnerships to greatly enhance the profile and resulting impact of Living Water Smart,” reiterated Lynn Kriwoken.
Influence Behaviour and Attitudes
“Water issues are complex and best solved collaboratively, which include using strategies and solutions that fall outside government control. While legislative reform is a foundation piece, collaboration takes place in the world of practitioners,” explained Lynn Kriwoken.
“At the end of the day, planners and engineers and other disciplines must come together to determine the issues and solutions. No statute will help them do that.”
“This is why we constantly emphasize that Living Water Smart is about motivating and inspiring everyone to embrace shared responsibility. Influencing behaviour and attitudes is at the heart of moving from awareness to action.”
To Learn More:
To read the complete article, download a copy of Pathway to Urban Water Sustainability in British Columbia.
Download and read the entire document! — Water Sustainability Action Plan for British Columbia
