Navigating the Shoals: Assessing Water Governance and Management in Canada

Under the guidance of the Leaders Forum on Water Resource Management and Governance, the Conference Board conducted case study research on five watersheds. The focus was to look at some of Canada’s water governance and management institutions to determine whether they are adequately equipped to meet the multitude of challenges they face both today and in the near future. The research uncovered policies, partnerships, structures and approaches that are working well—and others that are working poorly. This briefing outlines some of the challenges involved in water resource management and concludes that changes are required if water managers are to successfully navigate the shoals ahead. Citing examples from the five watersheds studied, the document presents six specific recommendations for improving water governance and management in Canada.