Statement made on 04 March 2008 by Senator Joan Cook (retired)
Hon. Joan Cook:
Honourable senators, I grew up in the coastal community of English Harbour West in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador — a place surrounded by water. The livelihood of many coastal families, like mine, relies on water as a way of life. We know that water is essential to the survival of all living things. Regardless of where we live, our daily lives revolve around water, for without it we would perish. With the constant threat and the uncertainty of climate change, our growing global population and our never-ending desire to industrialize, our access to clean water is being threatened worldwide.
I would like to share two projects that are making positive changes and improving global access to clean water. I have been a member of the Girl Guides of Canada for a lifetime. This organization exists in 144 countries and has over 10 million members worldwide. Every year, to celebrate our founders Lord and Lady Baden-Powell's birthdays, Girl Guides challenges its members to learn about a pertinent topic that concerns us all. This year's theme is water and will focus on the aspects of water use and sanitation that affect the health of girls and young women in all parts of the world. This reminds us that we are part of a global community of girls and women, and that we have a responsibility to help our sisters in other parts of the world.
Honourable senators, the second project that I wish to share with you is World Water Day, which is celebrated each year on March 22. This year's theme will highlight the increasing challenges of coping with water scarcity worldwide and the need for the increased integration of resources at both the international and local levels.
In 1993, the United Nations General Assembly designated March 22 as World Water Day. In 2005, the UN began the International Decade for Action on Water in order to give a higher profile to implementing water-related programs. The UN hopes that this decade will boost the chances of achieving international water-related goals to help the 1.1 billion people without adequate access to water and the 2.4 billion without adequate sanitation.
To put our situation in Canada into perspective, on average, every Canadian uses over 300 litres of water each day, which is equivalent to approximately three full bathtubs. In comparison, the people of Africa each use about three litres of water per day, which is about one full bucket.
As a wealthy, developed nation we need to be aware of our wasteful personal water use, not to mention the industrial water waste created by our society. We can make small changes in our homes, such as checking our taps and toilets for leaks, taking shorter showers and collecting rainwater to water plants. Together we can be part of the solution.
Honourable senators, Canada's landmass contains about 7 per cent of the world's fresh water. Managing our vast water resource is a complex issue that all levels of government need to address responsibly in order to protect it for future generations. I urge all honourable senators and all my fellow Canadians to take responsibility for conserving our water.