…but thankfully, the resolution passes anyway.

Earlier today, the UN voted 122 in favour, and 41 abstaining, for a resolution making water an internationally recognized human right.

The Canadian government did little/nothing to further this effort, declining to vote over fears that this would endanger Canada’s water supply. Along with the government, many Canadians fear that if water is recognized as a human right, we’ll be obligated to export our water to other countries.

This is FALSE.

Just like with other human rights, Canada is only obliged to provide this right to its own citizens. Not to others.

The resolution calls on developed countries to help developing countries increase their capacity to provide public water services, but it does not require water-rich countries to ensure others have access to water.

Maude Barlow, chairwoman of the Council of Canadians and former UN senior advisor on water issues, provides her sober, thoughtful commentary on this and other related issues in the article below:  http://www.canada.com/health/declares+water+sanitation+human+rights/3332789/story.html

There’s also a Toronto Star article, from just before the vote: http://www.thestar.com/article/840582–un-to-vote-on-right-to-water