2021 Reports 3 to 7 of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development to the Parliament of Canada—Continued and increased coordination is key to improving freshwater quality outcomes

2021 Reports 3 to 7 of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development to the Parliament of CanadaContinued and increased coordination is key to improving freshwater quality outcomes

Ottawa, 25 November 2021—A report from Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development Jerry V. DeMarco found that Environment and Climate Change Canada and Agriculture and Agri‑Food Canada’s took a coordinated and risk-based approach to reduce the impact of excess nutrients on ecosystems in Lake Erie, Lake Winnipeg, and the Wolastoq—Saint John River. The audit focused on these 3 water basins in part because they cross international or interprovincial borders, and because each has a significant or emerging harmful and nuisance algal blooms.

“Excess nutrients and algal blooms have been concerns in all 3 water basins that we examined, and may worsen as a result of agricultural pressures and climate change”, said Mr. DeMarco. “Excess nutrients can lead to runaway growth of algae, which can in turn produce toxins that are harmful to humans, livestock, pets, and wildlife.”

The audit identified that the departments could improve outcomes by further coordinating their scientific activities and improving the sharing of information with other organizations involved in water resource management.

Both Environment and Climate Change Canada and Agriculture and Agri‑Food Canada had tools for assessing risks and used the risks they identified to guide their scientific activities. Some coordination was occurring within individual projects, however the departments were not formally and consistently sharing information on the risks they had identified. Also, neither departments knew whether its communication activities were effective or meeting the needs of external groups.

“Canada has a stated goal of increasing agricultural production, which could increase nutrient runoff”, said Mr. DeMarco. “Environment and Climate Change Canada and Agriculture and Agri‑Food Canada have important roles to play in balancing economic and environmental interests, and coordination between the departments is vital to addressing water quality issues.”

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The 2021 Reports of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development, Report 3—Scientific Activities in Water Basins is available on the Office of the Auditor General of Canada website.

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