Province moves to overhaul Water Act
Bill 7 promises easier water sharing and more transparency while chiefs warned of risks to Treaty rights and river systems
Alberta announced plans to update water law for the first time in a generation, introducing Bill 7, the Water Amendment Act, to make it simpler for farmers, ranchers, communities and industry to access and share water.
Within a day of the announcement, a committee of Treaty 6, 7 and 8 chiefs condemned the proposal, saying it threatened constitutionally protected rights and the health of northern river systems.
Environment and Protected Areas Minister Rebecca Schulz framed the bill as a practical response to growth and recurring dry years.
“Water is one of Alberta’s most precious resources. Alberta is growing, and so is the demand for water. By listening to Albertans and updating the Water Act, we’re helping communities, businesses, and our economy grow and access the water they need to thrive,” Schulz said.
Agriculture and Irrigation Minister RJ Sigurdson said the changes would make it easier to expand irrigation and keep producers competitive.
“By making these crucial changes, we’re taking an important step toward strengthening and growing our agriculture industry. These changes will help increase access to water, support the expansion of our irrigation districts and ensure farmers and ranchers have the resources they need to keep Alberta’s ag sector strong,” Sigurdson said.
Bill 7 would also allow the province to set consistent expectations for measurement and reporting. Government said it would consult licence holders on details and could consider whether prices paid during licence transfers should be reported to improve transparency. Supporters in the irrigation sector welcomed the direction.
“For years, irrigators have asked for changes to make it easier for licensees to use and share their water in a timely way,” said Richard Phillips, chair of the Alberta Irrigation Districts Association.
Rural municipalities also pointed to supply concerns.
“Without a glacier-fed water body within our municipality, water security is critical to the success of the County of Wetaskiwin, its residents and businesses. We appreciate the government’s effort in taking steps to ensure equitable access to this important resource,” said Reeve Josh Bishop.
Justin Wright, MLA for Cypress-Medicine Hat and chair of the Water Advisory Committee that informed the bill, said the proposal reflected what he heard in consultations.
“As Chair of the Water Advisory Committee, I’ve heard firsthand how critical these updates are. Bill 7 will make our system stronger and more efficient and make more water available for where it’s needed most,” Wright said.
Alberta remains the only province where standard transfers require a special act of the legislature. Bill 7 proposed a new category of lower risk transfers that could be approved by ministerial order if strict environmental limits were met. High risk transfers would still go to the legislature.
The Chiefs Steering Committee on Technical Services rejected that approach and said the bill went further by proposing to merge the Peace Slave and Athabasca basins, a move chiefs argued would enable large water diversions from the north for economic interests elsewhere. The government news release did not reference a merger, but the chiefs said any attempt to fast-track transfers without full Indigenous oversight broke the Crown’s duty to consult.
“Since there was memory, our peoples have been connected to the vast lands and waters that Premier Smith purports to take ownership. Our stories, our songs, our rights under the sacred Treaties affirms our peoples’ rights to hunt, fish, trap and gather medicines and to continue to be who we are as First Nations peoples; rights that are meaningless without clean, sufficient water given to all of us, including non-Indigenous people, by the Creator and secured under Treaty,” said Chief Rupert Meneen of Tall Cree Tribal Government in Treaty 8.
Chief Troy Knowlton of Piikani Nation in Treaty 7 explained that the government’s attempt to fast-track inter-basin transfers will permanently alter ecosystems.
“They are effectively robbing Peter to pay Paul, while they strip away accountability and minimize Indigenous oversight on decisions that impact our peoples’ health, wellbeing and futures,” said Knowlton.
Chief Vernon Watchmaker of Kehewin Cree Nation in Treaty 6 demanded that the Government of Alberta immediately stop action on Bill 7.
“[We] insist on real and legally required dialogue to establish a modern water management strategy that doesn’t just ‘pray for rain’. All legislation needs to uphold our Inherent right to govern water in our traditional territories, and the fundamental human right to safe, clean water. Water is not a commodity for industrial convenience; it is the lifeblood of every person on this land,” said Watchmaker.
Recent conditions formed the backdrop for both positions. The Water Act has not been meaningfully updated since 1999, and parts of Alberta have faced repeated drought seasons. In 2023, the province allocated about 9.73 billion cubic metres of water, more than 96 per cent from surface sources, and actual use was below allocations in several sectors.
Irrigation districts reported roughly 28 per cent of their allocations unused that year, and the energy industry used about 22 per cent of its total allocation. The Bow, Oldman and South Saskatchewan River sub basins have been closed to new licences since 2007, with the Milk River Basin closed since 1989, leaving transfers as the main path for new access.
Government said details on measurement and reporting rules will be worked out in an upcoming engagement with water licence holders. Chiefs called for a pause and direct talks that meet legal standards for consultation. Residents and licence holders can watch for the province’s engagement details and read the bill text when it is tabled, then share feedback before it becomes law.