Should Canada Export Its Water to the United States?
Whether or not Canada should export water to the United States has been an ongoing dispute over the past few decades. The U.S. has been through a number of terrible droughts but it seems as though they are reaching the point where some drastic changes will need to be made. Three of the endless amount of reasons why Canada should not export water to the U.S. is because of the cost, no benefits, and damaged ecosystems.
One of the foremost reasons why Canada should not export water to the United States is the prohibitive cost of such a project. Setting up pumps and waterlines large enough to supply an adequate amount of water to the U.S. would be extremely expensive. (Stratfor Global Intelligence). …show more content…
“Water is an economic good, but it is so much more than that: It is the basis of all life, not just human. It is integral to the health and beauty of Canada’s landscape. It is the key to our past and future. If this, the last and greatest natural resource still in Canadian hands is traded away, we are a lesser people, sovereign in name only,” says Paul Cellucci, former U.S. ambassador to Canada. As dramatic as his statement may seem, he brings up various important points that may be overlooked in this issue. Whenever anyone, whether it be farmers or the government, uses resources from an ecosystem, organisms are impacted. At the very least, plants and animals are affected in some way, such as a shortage of food or loss of shelter. Although Canada holds about 25% of the world’s supply of freshwater, only 6% is renewable. (Bauch) Also, water conservationists are concerned about not being able to stop water exportation if we were to start, and this would result in the danger of Canada experiencing their own water problems. (Bauch) Water is a prominent factor in shaping Canada as a country, therefore exporting water to the U.S. would pose many problems to sustaining our
Whether or not Canada should export water to the United States has been an ongoing dispute over the past few decades. The U.S. has been through a number of terrible droughts but it seems as though they are reaching the point where some drastic changes will need to be made. Three of the endless amount of reasons why Canada should not export water to the U.S. is because of the cost, no benefits, and damaged ecosystems.
One of the foremost reasons why Canada should not export water to the United States is the prohibitive cost of such a project. Setting up pumps and waterlines large enough to supply an adequate amount of water to the U.S. would be extremely expensive. (Stratfor Global Intelligence). …show more content…
“Water is an economic good, but it is so much more than that: It is the basis of all life, not just human. It is integral to the health and beauty of Canada’s landscape. It is the key to our past and future. If this, the last and greatest natural resource still in Canadian hands is traded away, we are a lesser people, sovereign in name only,” says Paul Cellucci, former U.S. ambassador to Canada. As dramatic as his statement may seem, he brings up various important points that may be overlooked in this issue. Whenever anyone, whether it be farmers or the government, uses resources from an ecosystem, organisms are impacted. At the very least, plants and animals are affected in some way, such as a shortage of food or loss of shelter. Although Canada holds about 25% of the world’s supply of freshwater, only 6% is renewable. (Bauch) Also, water conservationists are concerned about not being able to stop water exportation if we were to start, and this would result in the danger of Canada experiencing their own water problems. (Bauch) Water is a prominent factor in shaping Canada as a country, therefore exporting water to the U.S. would pose many problems to sustaining our