Canadian Education And Research For Water Resources Management

ABSTRACT

Responsibility for water resources is shared between the federal and provincial governments. Education is primarily a provincial responsibility, but the federal government does provide financial support to colleges and universities and is a major source of research funds for the Universities.

Training for water technicians is provided at community colleges. In universities, education programs oriented to water are available in engineering, science and social science. At the undergraduate level, students are introduced to a variety of water problems, but are not able to specialize in water. Specialization normally occurs during graduate programs. Several interdisciplinary graduate programs and research centres or institutes provide alternative ways for students and faculty to address water problems.

Water research attracts interest from the federal and provincial governments, the universities, and the private sector. The federal government provides nearly 75% of the funding for water research, and in turn consumes about 50% of available research funds. Measured in constant dollars, research funding for water has been decreasing in Canada during the 1980's. Water quality and protection was receiving over 50% of all research funds by the mid 1980's. Second in importance was research on the water cycle, although funding for that aspect of water research has fallen by over 20% since the mid 1960's.

The reality of fragmentation of responsibility for water and education, and the presence of diverse interests, suggests that a national strategy for water resources research is needed if resources are to be allocated and used effectively. The federal government needs to show initiative if a national strategy is to be developed.