The 2017 federal budget created six Economic Strategy Tables to identify competitive advantages, investment attraction opportunities, and obstacles to growth, and propose a strategic action plan to drive long-term and sustainable economic growth and create high quality jobs for Canadians. The Clean Technology Economic Strategy Table (CTEST) is one of six Tables that is focused on turning Canadian economic strengths in clean technology into global advantages. 

The water sector was well represented at the last round table session in Montreal on March 21st on Regulations to Drive Innovation. CWWA’s executive Director Robert Haller participated along with Bu Lam of Canadian Water Network, Brenda Lucas of the Southern Ontario Water Consortium and Peter Gallant of WaterTAP.

CWWA added to the discussion calling for greater flexibility within regulations with an eye to the bigger picture and ultimate results versus strict targets as well as an understanding of the time required to consider and implement innovation that may take longer than going with conventional solutions. We discussed how to address risk aversion in municipalities through gradual phasing and CWWA proposed a federal "failure fund" like an insurance to back up communities that try innovation but face problems in the implementation. There was also a good discussion on the importance of standards and the need for a national strategy around Canada’s role and influence internationally.