PS Grant Highlights Launch of Public Engagement on Canada’s National Water Security Strategy and Announces New Projects to Protect the Fraser River
News release
September 10, 2026 – Vancouver, British Columbia
From the iconic Niagara Falls to the great northern Mackenzie River, Canada is home to some of the world’s most important freshwater systems. Water is essential to our environment, communities, and economy, and holds deep cultural and spiritual significance for many Indigenous peoples. It is fundamental to our individual and collective prosperity, making water security a national priority.
Today, Wade Grant, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Nature, and Minister responsible for the Canada Water Agency (CWA), announced the launch of public engagement to develop the country’s first National Water Security Strategy.
The Government of Canada is inviting Canadians to share their views to inform the development of a National Water Security Strategy via an online platform accessible through the Canada Water Agency website.
A National Water Security Strategy will help ensure Canada’s long-term sustainability by addressing freshwater-related challenges and seizing opportunities to protect freshwater ecosystems, ensure communities are resilient, and industries are water secure, sustainable, and thriving.
As we work to adapt to an increasingly unpredictable and extreme climate, a national approach to water security is more important than ever. To understand diverse needs, knowledge systems and priorities related to water security, the CWA is engaging provincial and territorial partners; First Nations, Inuit, and Métis partners; and stakeholders across a broad range of sectors to ensure the Strategy reflects the values and lived experiences of people from coast to coast to coast.
The online platform at the link below includes survey questions to guide feedback. The survey will be open from September 9, 2026, to October 25, 2026, and a summary of the findings will be shared later this year.
Parliamentary Secretary Grant also announced $480,000 in funding for three partner-led projects under the Fraser River Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative, as part of the strengthened Freshwater Action Plan.
The Fraser River is the fourth-largest river in Canada by volume and is home to Canada’s largest port. Over 100 First Nations across at least nine language groups have traditional territory in the Fraser River basin. Activity across the basin generates nearly 10% of Canada’s gross domestic product across a wide variety of sectors including forestry, mining, agriculture, manufacturing, communications, and transportation.
The Fraser River Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative supports projects that advance science and knowledge, collaboration and engagement, and on-the-ground actions to reduce nutrients, sediments, and other contaminants in the Fraser River basin.
Among the recipients, Raincoast Conservation Foundation is receiving $169,000 over two years to work with Indigenous and local communities to improve water quality monitoring and support pollution reduction and restoration efforts across nearly half of the lower Fraser River basin.
Partner-led activities like this will help deliver improved water quality, biodiversity, and long-term environmental stewardship, while also creating lasting economic and social value.
Investments like these demonstrate how governments, Indigenous partners, communities, researchers and other partners can work together to address shared water challenges—an approach that will also help inform the development of Canada’s first National Water Security Strategy.
Through the Canada Water Agency, the Government of Canada is strengthening coordination and collaboration with provinces, territories, and Indigenous Peoples to address freshwater challenges and opportunities in the Fraser River and across the country. These efforts are part of a broader commitment to building a cleaner, more secure, and prosperous future for Canadians.
Quotes
“Water is life-giving, irreplaceable, and fundamental to public safety and economic security. Healthy freshwater ecosystems are vital to sustaining Canada and all who call it home. These investments will support local action to protect and restore this culturally and economically significant waterbody in Canada—advancing shared stewardship and safeguarding our fresh water for generations to come.”
– Wade Grant, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Nature and Minister responsible for the Canada Water Agency
“As one of the youngest members of Parliament, I know the decisions we make on water today are ones my generation will live with the longest. That is a responsibility I take seriously. This investment, and the national water strategy Canadians can now help shape, is how we protect the Fraser before problems become harder and more costly to fix.”
—Jake Sawatzky, Member of Parliament for New Westminster—Burnaby—Maillardville
“In Richmond, our history, our livelihoods, and our responsibilities all flow from the Fraser River. Everything that happens upstream ends up at our doorstep. This funding protects a river that shaped our fishing heritage in Steveston Village and continues to anchor our regional economy. Being strong stewards of our waterways is a responsibility we all share, and we need to lead by example for the next generation. I encourage everyone to participate in the consultations and contribute to Canada’s National Water Security Strategy to protect these waters for future generations.”
—Parm Bains, Member of Parliament for Richmond East—Steveston
“Healthy waters sustain fish, wildlife and people in the Fraser River watershed. Raincoast Conservation Foundation is thrilled and humbled to be a recipient of Canada Water Agency funding that will build community-based capacity to monitor and protect this important watershed. The Raincoast mobile water pollution lab ('Tracker') will serve as a platform for safe water quality monitoring and training in Fraser waterways from the Interior to the Pacific coast. Our mission is to protect and celebrate healthy waters through a braided approach to western science and Indigenous Knowledge,and create a basis for innovative solutions and best practices.”
– Peter S. Ross, Senior Scientist & Director, Water Pollution, Raincoast Conservation Foundation
Quick facts
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The launch of efforts to develop a National Water Security Strategy was announced in March 2026. It builds on the Government of Canada’s existing $650 million commitment over 10 years in the Freshwater Action Plan to manage, restore, and protect fresh water in Canada.
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The Canada Water Agency (Agency) is leading the work to develop a national approach to water security, in collaboration with provincial, territorial and Indigenous partners across the country.
- The Agency is the federal focal point for fresh water. Its mandate is to improve freshwater management in Canada by providing leadership, effective collaboration federally, and improved coordination and partnership with provinces, territories and Indigenous peoples.
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Canada faces a range of water-related challenges such as droughts, floods, pollution, wildfires, aging critical water infrastructure, stresses on groundwater, permafrost degradation, and algal blooms. Engagement on a National Water Security Strategy will focus on listening; identifying water security priorities; understanding challenges and opportunities; and exploring pathways for shared action.
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The Fraser River Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative is part of the strengthened Freshwater Action Plan (a $650 million investment over 10 years starting in 2023), and has the goal of managing, restoring and protecting fresh water. Delivered by the Canada Water Agency these initiatives:
- advance science and knowledge to inform decisions;
- enhance governance to support improved collaboration with partners and stakeholders; and
- support partner-led actions to protect and restore freshwater ecosystem health.
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The Fraser River was designated a Canadian Heritage River in 1998 based on its outstanding natural and cultural values.
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The Fraser River faces challenges from development activities and climate change, which pose risks to freshwater quality and aquatic ecosystem health throughout the basin.
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Since 2024, the Canada Water Agency has invested over $3 million in contribution funding to support partner-led projects focused on efforts to improve the aquatic health of the Fraser River.
Associated links
Contacts
Keean Nembhard
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of the Environment, Climate Change and Nature
343-552-2387
Keean.Nembhard@ec.gc.ca
Media Relations
Canada Water Agency
media@cwa-aec.gc.ca
Canada Water Agency’s X page
Canada Water Agency’s LinkedIn page
Environment and Natural Resources in Canada Facebook Page