The Manitoba Water Council is a statutory body established under the authority of the Water Protection Act (Section 24). Its members are appointed by Order-in-Council of the Lieutenant Governor for Manitoba.
The Council is the senior advisory board reporting to the Minister of Water Stewardship. It coordinates and oversees the work of all provincial advisory bodies on water protection, and is an important consultative mechanism for government on province-wide water issues.
The Council advises the Minister on policies, programs, plans and legislation to achieve he government's goal of the best water for all forms of life and lasting prosperity. The Council represents the regional diversity of Manitoba, and includes local government, agricultural, and environmental perspectives. The Council helps to build consensus among Manitobans on sustainable solutions to the province's challenges for the protection and management of water quality and quantity.
The Manitoba Water Council provides a vital link between existing stewardship and advisory bodies such as the Lake Manitoba Stewardship Board and the Lake Winnipeg Stewardship Board.
Today, the Manitoba Water Council had the opportunity to discuss with the Honourable Christine Melnick, Minister of Water Stewardship, its advice on a proposed framework for a Manitoba Wetland Strategy. This advice was based on a synthesis of information collected from the public, various government departments, other jurisdictions and academic and technical expertise (please see http://www.manitobawatercouncil.ca/pdf/final_mwc_what_we_heard.pdf). The proposed framework for a Manitoba Wetland Strategy outlines a vision for wetlands in Manitoba and identifies three priority areas: 1) Protection; 2) Collaboration; and 3) Education.
Minister Melnick was pleased with the proposed framework and thanked the Council for its hard work and thoughtful advice. Minister Melnick indicated that over the coming weeks, her department will carefully review the advice, will develop a path forward, and will provide a more detailed response to the Council.
The Manitoba Water Council is looking forward to continuing its involvement as this initiative moves forward.
The Manitoba Water Council would like to thank everyone who contributed during the consultation process. Your input was extremely valuable!
Today, the Manitoba Water Council had the opportunity to discuss with the Honourable Christine Melnick, Minister of Water Stewardship, its advice on a proposed framework for a Manitoba Wetland Strategy. This advice was based on a synthesis of information collected from the public, various government departments, other jurisdictions and academic and technical expertise (please see http://www.manitobawatercouncil.ca/pdf/final_mwc_what_we_heard.pdf). The proposed framework for a Manitoba Wetland Strategy outlines a vision for wetlands in Manitoba and identifies three priority areas: 1) Protection; 2) Collaboration; and 3) Education.
Minister Melnick was pleased with the proposed framework and thanked the Council for its hard work and thoughtful advice. Minister Melnick indicated that over the coming weeks, her department will carefully review the advice, will develop a path forward, and will provide a more detailed response to the Council.
The Manitoba Water Council is looking forward to continuing its involvement as this initiative moves forward.
The Manitoba Water Council would like to thank everyone who contributed during the consultation process. Your input was extremely valuable!
The Manitoba Water Council conducted public consultations "Seeking Manitobans' Perspectives on Wetlands" during the summer of 2010. We received an excellent response. Over 500 Manitobans provided their perspectives on wetlands during this process. The Council received 459 questionnaires and 27 written submissions, heard 57 formal presentations, and met over 200 attendees at the public meetings.
The perspectives and opinions that we heard this summer have been summarized into a "What We Heard" document that is available by clicking the tab on the left.
As set out in the Water Protection Act:
The Council brings together the expertise and experience of its members, under a consensus-based partnership, for the purpose of:
Council members, as individuals and as an assembly, are:
Supportive
of the vision, mission and principles adopted by the department of Water Stewardship.
Trustworthy
Council will earn public trust as an independent advisory body to government, stakeholders and the public, supported by credible data and information.
Fair
Members agree to deliberate in the best interest of the citizens of Manitoba and to do their best in representing the provincial mandate from their own unique perspective and background, and in so doing shall not advocate their own organizational interests or mandates.
Transparent
Council will be visible and accessible with established processes to bring issues forward and to communicate Council activities.
Timely
The Council will respond to priority issues in a reasonable fashion.
Innovative
The Council will bring together expertise and experience to find the best solutions to provincial water management issues.
Collaborative
Council will identify common initiatives and recommend collaboration where it is beneficial.
Consensus Building
Recognize that building a consensus perspective is mandated for the advisory aspects and roles of the Council. It is also recognized
that it may perform as an appeal body and is responsible to come to make a decision in an acceptable time frame and may need to use other democratic
mechanisms to achieve such.
The Water Council has, subject to the direction of the Minister, the following duties:
Council will review issues, identify priorities and maintain a list of existing and emerging water issues. Council will make recommendations based on consensus to government, stakeholders and public on the solutions to these issues. Council will provide policy advice to government and stakeholders.
Council will raise the awareness and understanding of Manitobans about water issues facing the province and encourage Manitobans to show leadership and to take action to improve water management in the province.
Council will investigate options to improve water conservation in Manitoba, including economic instruments, improved knowledge sharing, and development and implementation of best practices.
Council will gather research requirements from others, examine current research, identify research needs and advise on research priorities and funding requirements.
The Council is required to make formal presentation and report to the Minister on an annual basis. Further it is to provide interim reports or presentations as required by issue to the Minister or Deputy Minister.