Prince Albert declares March 22 World Water Day

By Brent Patterson
Council of Canadians
March 21st, 2012

Rick Sawa

In mid-February, Council of Canadians Prince Albert chapter activist Rick Sawa wrote the Mayor and Council of his city asking them to proclaim March 22 as World Water Day.

In his letter, Sawa also posed these questions for the mayor to answer at a chapter-organized public forum to be held on March 22,

“1) Since the North Saskatchewan River is the only raw water source for the City of Prince Albert, have Mayor and Council anticipated and assessed the impacts that industrial expansion in Upgrader Alley may have on water flows and water quality in the North Saskatchewan River? If so, what have you done to address this issue?

2) Given the current and continued pressure to privatize water resources in many jurisdictions around the world, will you pledge to keep our water resources in public utilities under the City of Prince Albert?”

In response, on March 5, the Mayor Jim Scarrow issued this proclamation:

“Whereas World Water Day is a United Nations designated day dedicated to water issues;

And Whereas there are more than 1 billion people world wide that lack access to clean, safe drinking water and 2.5 billion people have no access to basic water and sanitation services;

And Whereas 1 in 4 Canadian municipalities has faced water shortages in the last 3 years;

And Whereas water is critical for sustainable development, including environmental integrity and alleviation of poverty and hunger, and is indispensable for human health and well being;

And Whereas the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) could lead to the privatization or drinking water services and water itself.

NOW THEREFORE, I, Jim Scarrow, Mayor, do hereby proclaim March 22, 2012 in the City of Prince Albert as WORLD WATER DAY.”

Prince Albert is the third largest city in Saskatchewan and is situated in the centre of the province on the banks of the North Saskatchewan River.