Issues surrounding water in Canada constitute an increasingly popular topic within the academic community. When involving cross-disciplinary influences, it is crucial to focus on two fundamental questions in this field: why are we experiencing water issues, and how is it possible to deal with them? Water as a social opportunity provides us with such a perspective and suggests a panel of innovative tools to support the advent of a Canada-wide water policy. Edited by Seanna L. Davidson, Jamie Linton and Warren E. Mabee, following a workshop held at Queen’s University, this book is subdivided into three complementary themes: (1) a contextualization of water problems in Canada; (2) a discussion of water as a social opportunity for Canadian policies; and (3) a transformative approach described through Canadian initiatives.
Throughout the book, several key aspects related to water from a social perspective are described. It is argued that water should not only be seen as a natural resource to manage, but that it “may play a central role in helping realize and reconcile fundamental objectives” (4) of our societies (Chapter 1, Jamie Linton). Moreover, it is suggested that society has to transcend the way in which it thinks of water (Chapter 2, Ralh Pentland), from a “mere economic entitlement” to an “integral part of the natural landscape that must be sustained” (26). To support this proposal, an object-given approach, based on a utilitarian philosophy, is supported to accommodate the different social and ecological community needs in Canada (Chapter 3, Jeremy Schmidt). Therefore, the relationship between society and nature is investigated through alternative principles, such as Indigenous values and culture (Chapter 5, Merrell-Ann Phare and Brendan Mulligan), or governance opportunities for water and lessons that water can create for governance (Chapter 5, Alice Cohen).
With the purpose of promoting the relationship between human and non-human, ethics and politics, or aboriginal and non-aboriginal people in the Canadian context, the remaining chapters of the book focus on translating this new approach into concrete case studies as well as innovative policy and regulatory directions. Examples from Alberta depict the complexity of such a process and suggest a more systematic use of public participation to support a positive social response with respect to water management (Chapter 6, Henning Bjornlund and Vibeke Bjornlund). Local water supply management in Ontario is presented as an example of a challenge facing “politicization” (104), but also as an opportunity to improve water governance (Chapter 7, Kathryn Furlong). Furthermore, a few unique Canadian transformative initiatives are explored in several individual chapters of the book. First, the Great Lakes Futures Roundtable (GLFRT), a watershed-based approach “owned by nobody but shared by everybody” (119), was created to overcome the progressively individualistic missions of the numerous organizations involved in the Great Lakes basin (Chapter 8, Rick Findlay). The Naked Truth, taking place in the Lake Simcoe watershed, and The Long Term Water Conservation Strategy, located in Ontario’s York region, are two projects aiming to change people’s behaviours around water through social innovation and design thinking approach (Chapter 9, Hilary Van Welter). A final example is Waterlution, a Canadian national not-for-profit organization, based on decision-making process and facilitation, and designed to generate cross-sector ideas for water (Chapter 10, Seanna Davidson).
Overall, this book offers a valuable new perspective with respect to the water thematic. Even if the Canadian literature in the field of water management and water governance is increasingly abundant, Water as a social opportunity provides readers with a unique approach. By advocating an alternative mindset about water itself, also known as water ethics or hydrosocial cycle, it inspires interdisciplinary thoughts of a different way of governing water. More importantly, the various contributions made by the authors allow this book to reach a broad audience and to offer different avenues to accomplish the challenge of managing water in Canada.
Despite the unconventional and creative content, it would have been even more stimulating to present longer and more detailed articles, as the shortness of the book leaves the reader hungry for more holistic and concrete suggestions. In this sense, one concern about this book remains the concrete feasibility of such an approach. Defining a new paradigm for water governance and water management is a great theoretical challenge accomplished by Davidson et al.; however, the Canada-wide perspective mentioned in the introduction seems to be neglected throughout the book as the reader is solely provided with small-scale initiatives. Consequently, it leaves space for more thorough analysis and research, especially with respect to the tremendous challenge, discussed throughout the book, of changing the way in which our economy and society is currently operating by using water, its characteristics and interactions with human beings as a social opportunity. Because of a lack of guidelines in this regard, this book raises the fundamental question of how a Canada-wide water policy based on a divergent conception of water can be precisely achieved—in particular from a political and legal perspective.
Finally, despite this statement, Water as a social opportunity stands out in the Canadian water literature. It is to be recommended to water specialists and scholars, as well as any students or other individuals who have a deep interest in environmental issues and natural resource management. In fact, in addition to being financially accessible and yet of a great physical quality, it gives a comprehensive overview of Canada’s future water debates.
University of Ottawa and Université de Montpellier
© 2016 Canadian Water Resources Association
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/07011784.2016.1217748