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C-439
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Short Title
National Freshwater Strategy
Review and Report
First Session, Forty-second Parliament,
64-65-66-67-68 Elizabeth II, 2015-2016-2017-2018-2019
HOUSE OF COMMONS OF CANADA
BILL C-439
An Act respecting the development of a national strategy in relation to freshwater
FIRST READING, April 9, 2019
Ms. Ramsey
421534
SUMMARY
This enactment provides for the development of a national strategy in relation to freshwater.
Available on the House of Commons website at the following address:
www.ourcommons.ca
1st Session, 42nd Parliament, 
64-65-66-67-68 Elizabeth II, 2015-2016-2017-2018-2019
HOUSE OF COMMONS OF CANADA
BILL C-439
An Act respecting the development of a national strategy in relation to freshwater
Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:
Short Title
Short title
1 This Act may be cited as the National Fresh­water Strategy Act.
National Freshwater Strategy
National strategy
2 The Minister of the Environment must, in consultation with representatives of provincial and municipal governments, Indigenous groups, freshwater and climate scientists and researchers, and representatives of civil society organizations, including environmental groups, develop a national strategy for the conservation, protection, and use of freshwater including in relation to
(a) drinking water standards and their implementation;
(b) the consideration of freshwater issues in inter­national agreements;
(c) the evaluation of water and wastewater infrastructure in Canada in light of climate change;
(d) the reduction of eutrophication in Canada’s freshwater lakes;
(e) the protection of freshwater biodiversity and ecosystems; and
(f) the identification and resolution of knowledge gaps in relation to groundwater.
Conference
3 For the purpose of developing the strategy, the Minister of the Environment must hold at least one conference with the persons referred to in section 2.
Report to Parliament
4 (1) Within two years after the day on which this Act receives royal assent, the Minister of the Environment must prepare a report setting out the national strategy and cause it to be tabled in each House of Parliament on any of the first 15 days on which that House is sitting after it is completed.
Publication of report
(2) The Minister must post the report on the website of the Department of the Environment within 10 days after it is tabled in both Houses of Parliament.
Review and Report
Review
5 (1) Within five years after the tabling of the report referred to in section 4, a comprehensive review of the strategy must be undertaken by any committee of the Senate, of the House of Commons or of both Houses of Parliament that may be designated or established for that purpose by the Senate, the House of Commons or both Houses of Parliament, as the case may be.
Report
(2) The committee must, within a year after a review is undertaken under subsection (1) or within any further time authorized by the Senate, the House of Commons or both Houses of Parliament, as the case may be, submit a report on the review to Parliament, including a statement of any changes that the committee recommends.
Published under authority of the Speaker of the House of Commons
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