Introduction
The Canada Water Agency is a federal government agency responsible for strengthening freshwater management, supporting ecosystem restoration and coordinating action on water challenges across Canada.
The Agency works with Indigenous peoples, provinces, territories, municipalities, local authorities, scientists, watershed organizations and other stakeholders to keep Canada’s fresh water safe, clean and sustainably managed for present and future generations.
History and Background
The Government of Canada initially established the Canada Water Agency as a branch of Environment and Climate Change Canada in June 2023. Its creation reflected the need for stronger federal leadership and improved coordination on freshwater issues that cross provincial, territorial and international boundaries.
The Canada Water Agency Act received Royal Assent on June 20, 2024, as part of Bill C-59. The legislation came into force on October 15, 2024, formally establishing the Canada Water Agency as a standalone federal agency.
The Agency is headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba, a location closely connected to nationally significant lakes, rivers and freshwater management issues.
Its development was supported through federal investments announced in Budget 2023, including $650 million over ten years for the Freshwater Action Plan and Freshwater Ecosystem Initiatives. The federal government also provided $85.1 million over five years, followed by $21 million annually, to support the Agency’s creation and continuing operations.
Mission and Purpose
The Canada Water Agency’s mandate is to improve freshwater management through federal leadership, effective collaboration across government and stronger coordination with provinces, territories and Indigenous peoples.
Its stated vision is for fresh water in Canada to be safe, clean and well managed today and in the future.
Its principal objectives include:
- Protecting and restoring freshwater quality and aquatic ecosystems.
- Improving collaboration among governments, Indigenous partners, communities and stakeholders.
- Addressing national, regional and transboundary freshwater challenges.
- Advancing freshwater science, monitoring and research.
- Improving the collection, management and sharing of freshwater data.
- Supporting Indigenous participation and incorporating Indigenous knowledge into water management.
- Strengthening Canada’s ability to respond to pollution, climate change and ecosystem degradation.
Governance and Structure
The Canada Water Agency is an organization within the federal Environment, Climate Change and Nature portfolio. It operates under the authority of the Canada Water Agency Act and is accountable to Parliament through the responsible federal minister.
The Agency is headed by a president who oversees its administration, programs, personnel and strategic direction. As listed by the Government of Canada, Mark Fisher serves as President of the Canada Water Agency.
The Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Nature is responsible for the Agency and its work within the federal government’s broader environmental portfolio.
The Agency’s governance model emphasizes cooperation because responsibility for water management in Canada is shared among federal, provincial, territorial, Indigenous and local governments.
Its organizational work includes:
- Freshwater policy leadership.
- Program and funding administration.
- Indigenous collaboration.
- Federal, provincial and territorial coordination.
- Freshwater science and data collaboration.
- Transboundary water governance.
- Public reporting, accountability and departmental planning.
The Agency publishes departmental plans, financial information, reports and expected results to support transparency and parliamentary accountability.
Funding and Grants
The Canada Water Agency is funded through federal government appropriations and investments approved through Canada’s budgetary and parliamentary processes.
A major funding mechanism is the strengthened Freshwater Action Plan. Budget 2023 committed $650 million over ten years, beginning in 2023–2024, to support monitoring, assessment, protection and restoration work in freshwater ecosystems of national significance.
The Agency distributes portions of this funding through grants and contributions to eligible organizations undertaking freshwater projects. Funding availability, eligible applicants, project priorities, contribution limits and application deadlines vary by program and funding round.
Potential recipients may include:
- Indigenous governments, communities and organizations.
- Not-for-profit and environmental organizations.
- Watershed associations and conservation groups.
- Academic and research institutions.
- Provincial, territorial and municipal organizations.
- Community-based organizations.
- Other eligible entities working on freshwater protection and restoration.
Major Programs and Initiatives
Freshwater Action Plan
The Freshwater Action Plan provides the principal framework for much of the Canada Water Agency’s work. It combines freshwater policy, governance, Indigenous partnerships, science, data and regionally focused ecosystem initiatives.
The plan seeks to improve freshwater management by coordinating government action, supporting restoration projects and investing in monitoring, research and community participation.
Freshwater Ecosystem Initiatives
The Freshwater Ecosystem Initiatives support regionally specific actions to restore and protect the water quality and ecological health of nationally significant waterbodies.
Initiatives cover important freshwater systems such as:
- The Great Lakes.
- Lake Winnipeg.
- Lake of the Woods.
- The St. Lawrence River.
- The Fraser River.
- The Wolastoq–Saint John River.
- The Mackenzie River.
- Lake Simcoe.
Supported activities can include pollution reduction, nutrient management, habitat restoration, scientific research, Indigenous knowledge, community-based monitoring, public engagement and collaborative watershed governance.
Great Lakes Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative
This initiative addresses major environmental pressures affecting the water quality and ecosystem health of the Great Lakes.
Its work supports Canada’s commitments under the Canada–United States Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. Projects may address harmful chemicals, nutrient pollution, toxic and nuisance algae, habitat loss and designated Areas of Concern.
Lake Winnipeg Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative
The Lake Winnipeg initiative supports projects designed to reduce excessive nutrients, particularly phosphorus, and improve water quality throughout the basin.
Projects may involve agricultural practices, wetland and shoreline restoration, erosion control, community-based monitoring, Indigenous participation, research and public awareness.
Mackenzie River Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative
The Mackenzie River initiative supports collaboration, research and community action across one of Canada’s largest freshwater basins.
Its priorities are developed through engagement with provincial, territorial and Indigenous partners and collaboration with the Mackenzie River Basin Board. Projects can support water monitoring, Indigenous-led stewardship, scientific knowledge and coordinated basin management.
EcoAction Community Funding Program
EcoAction supports community-led environmental projects that produce measurable environmental results. Projects administered through the Canada Water Agency apply practical and sustainable approaches to improve freshwater quality, ecosystem health and environmental stewardship.
The program can help local organizations mobilize volunteers, strengthen community knowledge and undertake direct environmental action.
Freshwater Policy and Canada Water Act Review
The Agency provides freshwater policy expertise to support federal decisions and respond to emerging water-management challenges.
It is also involved in reviewing the Canada Water Act so that federal freshwater legislation better reflects current environmental conditions, Indigenous rights and knowledge, climate-related pressures and Canada’s contemporary water-management needs.
Indigenous Collaboration
Collaboration with First Nations, Inuit and Métis partners is a central part of the Agency’s mandate.
This work includes engagement on freshwater policies, data systems, ecosystem initiatives and governance arrangements. Indigenous-led projects may integrate traditional knowledge, community priorities and locally managed monitoring into freshwater decision-making.
Freshwater Science and Data Collaboration
The Agency supports the use of freshwater science to guide policies, investments and restoration activities. It also works to improve how freshwater data are collected, managed, shared and used.
Better access to reliable water data helps governments, communities, researchers and watershed organizations identify environmental changes, target interventions and measure long-term results.
Water One Window
Water One Window is a federal information service that helps users find freshwater programs, resources and information available across the Government of Canada.
The service is intended to make federal freshwater information easier to locate and support organizations involved in water stewardship, research, conservation and community action.
Inter-Jurisdictional and Transboundary Water Boards
The Canada Water Agency participates in arrangements addressing rivers, lakes and watersheds that cross provincial, territorial or international boundaries.
These boards support information exchange, coordinated monitoring and collaborative responses to water allocation, water quality, flooding, ecosystem health and other shared concerns.
Impact and Examples of Work Funded
The Canada Water Agency’s impact is reflected in its investments in science, restoration, pollution reduction, Indigenous leadership and community-based water stewardship.
In December 2025, the Agency announced more than $4.5 million for 39 freshwater projects. These projects included work supported through EcoAction and the Fraser River Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative.
In February 2026, the Agency announced an investment of more than $1 million in six projects protecting the Mackenzie River. The projects reflected priorities developed with Indigenous, provincial and territorial partners and the Mackenzie River Basin Board.
Examples of activities supported through Canada’s freshwater programs include:
- Community-based water-quality monitoring.
- Reduction of phosphorus and other nutrients entering waterways.
- Restoration of wetlands, shorelines and aquatic habitats.
- Riverbank stabilization and erosion control.
- Research into contaminants and ecosystem health.
- Indigenous-led monitoring and knowledge-sharing.
- Development of watershed-management tools.
- Public education and community engagement.
- Collaboration between First Nations and watershed organizations.
- Collection and sharing of scientific and community-generated data.
These investments strengthen the ability of communities and institutions to identify freshwater threats, implement local solutions and contribute to long-term watershed management.
Conclusion
The Canada Water Agency provides national leadership on freshwater protection, ecosystem restoration, water policy, science, data and collaborative governance in Canada.
Through the Freshwater Action Plan, Freshwater Ecosystem Initiatives, EcoAction and partnerships with Indigenous peoples, governments, researchers and community organizations, the Agency supports practical solutions to water pollution, habitat degradation and other freshwater challenges.
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