The prairies' experience in handling inter-provincial conflicts over water-use may point the way to success in the MackenzieRiver Basin, according to a report released today by the C.D. Howe Institute. In Resolving Water-Use Conflicts: Insights from the Prairie Experience for the Mackenzie River Basin, law professor David Percy says a cooperative approach led the prairie provinces to a basic agreement on water sharing that works; and a similar approach could help kick-start progress in the more complex issues facing the Mackenzie River Basin. The history in the southern prairies, says Percy, suggests that more progress might be had if governments first sought agreement on the basics of minimum flow regimes and water quality objectives. This would set the foundations of the trust that would enable the provinces and Canada to reach toward a more comprehensive agreement, with better prospects for success.
