PLAN 597

Planning for Water Resources Management

Governance Systems I: 13th October 2011

Laws, Institutions and Governance

 

In this session we examine the third part of an analytical framework for planning and management of water resources -- legal-institutional systems or, more broadly, governance systems. In the first half of the class we discuss governance systems in terms of the legal, jurisdictional and legislative frameworks (i.e. who has what rights and responsibilities) and the use of market mechanisms (i.e. buying and selling and the uses of pricing). In the second half we consider how governance institutions have evolved. What skills are needed by the people involved? How should institutional arrangements be re-formed to facilitate the resolution of conflict and cooperation in planning and management?

Reading for First Hour and Half

Hill, C. et al. 2007. "A Survey of Water Governance Legislation and Policies in the Provinces and Territories." Appendix 1, in Bakker, K. (Ed.) Eau Canada: The Future of Canada's Water. Vancouver: UBC Press. pp. 369-392. Available in Water Reading Materials.

Christensen, R. and Lintner, A. 2007. Trading Our Common Heritage? The Debate Over Water Rights Transfer in Canada, in Bakker, K. (Ed.) Eau Canada: The Future of Canada's Water. Vancouver: UBC Press. pp. 219-241. Available in Water Reading Materials.

Cantin, B., Shrubsole, D., and Ait-Ouyahia, M. 2005. "Using Economic Instruments for Demand Management: Introduction." Canadian Water Resources Journal 30.1 pp 1-10. Available in Water Reading Materials.

Supplementary

Rueggeberg, H. and Thompson, A. 1984. Water Law and Policy Issues in Canada. Vancouver: Westwater Research Centre. pp. i-13. (this reading repeats some of Christensen and Lintner's discussion of water rights but in a different way and includes the characteristics of an ideal system; it also adds a complementary discussion of water quality to the quantity issues that are the focus of their discussion).

Exercise

Discussion

  1. What is an institutional system? A governance system?
  2. Who owns the water in Canada?
  3. How are water rights allocated and responsibilities enforced in B.C.?
  4. What is the potential of economic instruments for demand management?
  5. What are the roles of executive, legislative, judicial and market mechanisms in Canadian water governance today? Tomorrow?
  6. Preparation for class presentations (below)
  7. Questions about Analytical Exercise I?


PREPARATION FOR PRESENTATIONS

LAST REVISED 13 OCTOBER 2011

Schedule for preparing and presenting

November 3 Kate and Roanna IWRM & Large Projects: Site C, BC(Post by October 27th)
November 3 Soheila and Jason IPP Run-of-river: Rutherford Creek, BC(Post by October 27th)
November 3 Erica and Ilana IWRM ???(Post by October27th)


November 10 Kerri and Maria IWRM Water Supply and Sanitation; Mumbai (Post by November 3rd)
November 10 Rupert and Thomas D. Restoring Natural Water Systems: False Creek Flats (Post by Nov 3rd)
November 10 Cam and Thomas B. Stormwater Management and Green Streets: Portland (Post by Nov 3rd)


November 17 Josh and Yazmin Transborder Water Disputes: Mexico-US & Canada-US (Post by Nov10th)

November 17 Yaheli and Andrew Diking and Flood Vulnerability: Richmond, BC (Post by November 10th)

November 17 Gordon ?Hazards? (Post by November 10th)

November 24 Jessie and Tamara Water Provision for Informal Settlements (Post by November 17th)