Canadians want Water recognized as human right

April 29, 2004
Canadians want water recognized as a human right

According to an Ipsos-Reid poll released today, 84% of Canadians strongly agree that
Canada should adopt a comprehensive national water policy that recognizes clean drinking water
as a basic human right.

Overall, 97% of Canadians expressed their support for water to be recognized as a human right.
The Ipsos-Reid poll was conducted with 1057 Canadian adults between March 30 and April 1, 2004 and was commissioned by the Council of Canadians and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE).
http://www.ipsos-na.com/news/pressrelease.cfm?id=2193.

Despite this overwhelming support, the government has consistently refused to listen to Canadians
on this issue. In 2002, the Canadian government was the only one to vote against accepting water as a human right at the United Nations Commission on Human Rights. Moreover, the Walkerton Inquiry found that the
right to water does not exist in Canadian legislation.

Act Now!

The Council of Canadians has launched a national campaign to ensure water is a human right and to encourage Canadians to act locally to protect our waters. We must ensure that water remains a human right that is public,
protected, and priceless.

Visit the Council of Canadians' web site for more information and to email the Prime Minister on this issue at: http://www.canadians.org {Look under Water Campaign, Click on What's New, Canadians, send an email letter to
Prime Minister Martin ..}