It is certainly a busy (and exciting) time in the water sector in Canada. 2016 should prove to be an important year. The new federal government seems to have set a new tone, recognizing the importance of water and wastewater to our national economy and directing significant funds toward our industry. This discussion started during the election and strengthened in each speech from the new Prime Minister and his Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, the Hon. Amarjeet Sohi. This culminated in the recent budget announcements – full of optimism for the water sector. See my review of the budget in this e-Bulletin.

On the national conference scene, the biennial GLOBE Series was a great success (see separate story) with environmental leaders inspired by the new support at the federal level. I was able to attend a very productive WEFMAX meeting in March and heading to Washington in April for further talks with the wipes industry about those not-so-flushable wipes.  Canada is still leading the effort toward an international standard for things that want to be called flushable. April and May will also see me in Niagara (WEAO Conference) then Windsor (OWWA), while our President Colwyn Sunderland will represent us at BCWWA.

May will also see the National Biosolids Conference in Edmonton. I encourage all those in this biosolids sector to get involved in this biennial ‘Canadian’ event.

Meanwhile, I’m participating in a Roundtable discussion in Toronto with the National Research Council, and assisting with the Canadian Water Network’s Blue Cities event in May.  Meanwhile we prepare for our own CWWA Window on Ottawa here in June followed by the Canadian Water Summit in Toronto.  So if I don’t answer my desk phone, you know where I am.