BRINGING WATER SCIENTISTS AND CANADIAN POLICY-MAKERS TOGETHER WATER DAY ON THE HILL 2020 REPORT In partnership with Canada’s Chief Science Advisor, the Global Institute for Water Security at the University of WATER Saskatchewan brought water scientists from 14 institutions across Canada on March 10, 2020 to Ottawa to meet with DAY ON Parliamentarians and senior federal officials to raise awareness about issues around water security for Canada, and share information on how scientific knowledge can THE HILL inform decision making. 05 BACKGROUND The beginning of a unique communication platform between water scientists and policymakers in Canada 07 EVENT PROGRAMME The message to the Parliamentarians was clear - Canada's water requires their attention 14 FUTURE GOALS What's Next? 15 WATER SCIENCE BRIEFS Research that is advancing our understanding of freshwater in Canada 20 SCIENTIST PROFILES From East to West, Water Day on the Hill was attended by 23 water scientists 34 LIST OF MEETINGS 23 water scientists met with 24 Parliamentarians CONTENTS BACKGROUND Water Day on the Hill 2020 marked the snowpack, melting glaciers and permafrost; beginning of an exciting connection and resulting changes in streamflow and between water scientists and policymakers groundwater that will increase the risk of in Canada. With the unprecedented global summer water shortages. Reliable access to pandemic situation, water has become appropriate water for all intended uses is a more crucial than ever in saving lives. One local issue for every constituency in in nine people lacks access to improved Canada, while managing the broader water water supply, while one in three lacks system is a national issue. Our nation’s access to sanitation. Climate change is not water scientists are keen to share their making the situation any easier. knowledge with government officials as Canada has the largest amount of they work through important decisions renewable fresh water in the world, but it necessary for Canada to be best prepared is not in the most accessible and secure for a more complicated water future. Water form. New science is revealing that Canada scientists around Canada have been is not as water secure as we would like to exploring different aspects of water, from think: water is part of a dynamic system, municipal water supply and wastewater the rules of which are changing swiftly. treatment to groundwater depletion. The scope and pace of these changes are Research by the scientific community is putting Canada's people, environment and critical for policymakers to make evidence- agricultural productivity at great risk. based decisions about sustainable water Climate change is resulting in rapid management. Water Day on the Hill was changes that Canada must prepare for: an an effort to enhance the exchange of increasing intensity of extremes of information between Canada’s government flooding, drought and wildfire; shrinking leaders and its water scientists. Photo: Participants of Water Day on the Hill, March 9, 2020, the Rideau Club, Ottawa. Page 6 | Background EVENT PROGRAMME RECEPTION The Water Day on the Hill event kicked off with a reception for the scientists on March 9 at the Rideau Club, hosted by the Office of Chief Science Advisor and Global Institute for Water Security (GIWS). The reception focused on providing introductory training about engagement with public policymakers and also to encourage dialogue among the participants. GIWS Executive Director, Jay Famiglietti provided opening remarks. Paul Dufour, from PaulicyWorks, provided the group with an overview of how to communicate with policymakers and why events like this are crucial for scientists. He focused on “following up as a post-event action” as an important way to ensure the message is received. Photo: Water Day on the Hill scientists attend presentation by Paul Dufour, Principal, PaulicyWorks. March 9, 2020, the Rideau Club, Ottawa. Page 8 | Reception TESTIMONY Water Day on the Hill participants were invited to be witnesses before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development and to brief them on Canada's Water Security. Three scientists - from across Canada Jay Famiglietti, David Rudolph and Amina Stoddart – testified, giving statements about the state of water security in Canada, followed by 30 minutes of questions from the Committee. Testimony covered the breadth of water science and Canada’s geography: Jay Famiglietti spoke about surface water and climate change; David Rudolph spoke about groundwater; and Amina Stoddart drinking water and wastewater. The recording of the session is available here. Photo: From left to right - MP Brad Redekopp, Saskatoon West, Dr. Amina Stoddart, Dr. Jay Famiglietti and Dr. David Rudolph. House of Commons, March 10, 2020, Ottawa. Testimony | Page 9 LUNCHEON Canada’s Chief Science Advisor, Dr. Mona docs presented their research, followed by Nemer, hosted a luncheon for all of the an animated discussion session. It was an Water Day on the Hill scientists. Will very positive atmosphere and a wonderful Amos, Parliamentary Secretary to the opportunity for the junior scientists and Minister of Innovation Science and future water leaders. Industry (Science) and Terry Duguid, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change (Canada Water Agency) gave passionate remarks about the importance of water science and water security for Canada. Also in attendance were Dr. Roseanne Runte, President and CEO of the Canada Foundation for Innovation, Dr. Danika Goosney, Vice-President, Research Grants and Scholarships Directorate at the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), as well as the Assistant Deputy Ministers for Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and Western Economic Diversification Canada. Departmental Science Advisors from Health and ECCC were also in attendance. Graduate students and post- Photo: Water Day on the Hill Luncheon attendees. Office of the Chief Science Advisor, March 10, 2020, Ottawa. Page 10 | Luncheon NSERC Water scientists took part in a conversation with NSERC as part of their Water Day on the Hill event in Ottawa following the luncheon. The conversation provided an overview of NSERC's mandate, funding mechanisms and processes. NSERC Vice President Danika Goosney stated , “We are grateful to have had the opportunity to meet with you all today, and proud to support water research across the country!” LIBRARY OF PARLIAMENT Some of the Water Day on the Hill scientists met with a group of librarians and analysts at the Library of Parliament. The main source of information for MPs, Senators and standing committees is the Library of Parliament. The Library of Parliament group discussed their methods for producing research documents in response to official requests, which the researchers found illuminating. Both the groups found the interaction to be extremely valuable and expressed interest in further engagement. NSERC and Library of Parliament | Page 11 MEETINGS Water scientists emphasized the value of water and shared their stories of research with the Parliamentarians. Twenty four meetings with Parliamentarians took place around the hill in the heart of Ottawa. Jay Famiglietti, Executive Director of GIWS noted, “The crucial work of water scientists is not always well-understood by the general public, and the event presented an opportunity to raise awareness about water security itself.” He and his colleagues also emphasized the need for an integrated and collaborative Canadian Water Agency. Thanks to the event, Parliamentarians are now hopefully better equipped to consider the perspective of scientists when making decisions that affect the Canadians across the country. Page 12 | Meetings Meetings | Page 13 Future Goals Building on the success of Water Day on the Hill 2020, the goal is to organize annual or biennial event and extend into two days of engagement and advocacy about the value of Canadian water and water research. The following will remain strategic goals for GIWS: 1. Promote establishment of an integrated and collaborative Canadian Water Agency 2. Create synergy between policymakers and water scientists 3. Provide a platform for early career scientists to engage with decision-makers 4. Emphasize the value of supporting water research WATER SCIENCE BRIEFS S C I E N C E C O N T R I B U T I O N S T O C A N A D A ’ S W A T E R S E C U R I T Y Science is showing us that Canada’s water cycle is rapidly changing. W A T E R S C I E N T I S T S Flooding and drought are becoming more frequent and intense. The timing I N C A N A D A A R E and patterns of precipitation are Working with government partners to changing, impacting water availability track rates of change of rainfall, for people and for agriculture. Warmer streamflow and evapotranspiration; temperatures are leading to shorter snowpack, snow and ice melt; and changes snow and ice cover seasons, including to soil moisture and groundwater storage earlier spring peak streamflow, thinning glaciers and thawing Providing an integrated hydrologic permafrost. Changing water patterns modeling platform that includes natural bring significant challenges to and human components (e.g. dams, sustainably managing Canada’s water reservoir operations, irrigation, future for its people, agriculture, diversions) for forecasting, prediction and economic growth and environment. decision making in Canada’s major river basins C A N A D A ' S University water researchers are