22 June 2025
The following is a response from the Honourable Rebecca Schulz, Minister of Environment and Protected Areas, regarding SAGE’s submission to the Enhanced Water Availability, Phase II engagement.

Thank you for your June 25, 2025, letter, sharing your feedback on the proposed Water Act amendments to enhance Alberta’s water availability.

As part of the province’s ongoing work to increase water availability, we engaged Albertans in fall 2024 to early 2025 to hear ideas on how to strengthen the water management system to enhance availability for years to come. While the feedback was wide-ranging, it was clear Alberta’s water management system and the Water Act generally serve us well, including the Water for Life strategy as well as water conservation and ecosystem health protection goals. Some opportunities and barriers were identified, indicating some limitations of the legislation in supporting water availability.

In response to engagement feedback, the Government of Alberta proposed Water Act updates and complementary policy to increase water availability while continuing to protect the environment. We will consider your feedback on the proposed changes, along with other input received, as legislative amendments are prepared. The proposed act changes do not address all opportunities put forward by Albertans to enhance water availability, and we will continue responding to the feedback received to advance opportunities to improve water availability.

Thank you again for your feedback and interest in improving Alberta’s water management.