A wetland near Pine Lake in east-central Alberta. Credit: Ducks Unlimited Canada
The Government of Alberta has introduced legislation to update its Water Act, aiming to simplify licensing, improve transparency and support growing demand for water across the province.
The Alberta government is proposing changes to the province’s water legislation for the first time in more than two decades.
Environment and Protected Areas Minister Rebecca Schulz tabled Bill 7, the Water Amendment Act, on Thursday, aiming to make it easier for farmers, ranchers, communities, and businesses to access and share water.
The government says the Water Act hasn’t been meaningfully updated since 1999, and while the foundation of the system, including existing licences and Alberta’s long-standing priority system, will remain in place, the amendments are designed to reduce red tape and speed up approvals.
Bill 7 would let the province set clear timelines for reviewing water licence applications and make it simpler to use alternative sources such as rainwater or treated wastewater.
The government says further details on new reporting requirements for water licence holders will be developed through public engagement in the months ahead.
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