OTTAWA, ON, Oct. 6, 2026 /CNW/ -- Canadians overwhelmingly want freshwater security to be a national priority, according to new public opinion research released today by AquaAction and partners. The findings come as public consultations are underway for Canada's first National Water Security Strategy.
The polling finds 93% of Canadians believe water security should be a high priority for Canada, with respondents making strong connections between freshwater and their health, quality of life and economic well-being.
"Building Canada Strong should not come at the expense of water, but should go hand in hand with protecting it," said Soula Chronopoulos, President of AquaAction. "Canadians clearly see freshwater as fundamental, not just to our quality of life and environment, but to our economy. The National Water Security Strategy is an opportunity to respond to these strong sentiments with the investments and measures needed to secure Canada's freshwater future."
Running until October 25, the National Water Security Strategy consultations are the first step in a commitment made during the 2025 federal election, alongside a commitment to create a Water Security Technology Fund to support Canadian R&D, AI, monitoring and data tools. Nine in ten polling respondents say it is important for the government to follow through on the proposed $100-million fund.
Canada is confronting mounting freshwater pressures, including contaminants, aging infrastructure, stresses on groundwater and increasingly severe cycles of drought and flooding. At the same time, water is becoming an increasingly strategic resource globally, creating an opportunity for Canada to connect its world-class research, freshwater assets and innovators to growing demand for solutions.
"Canadians are feeling water issues in their daily lives and increasingly connecting water security to their economic well-being," said Marie-Paule Jeansonne, Executive Director, Fondation de Gaspé Beaubien. "Nine out of ten Canadians support a major federal investment in water security that can serve as a catalyst to attract provincial, philanthropic and private contributions."
Despite Canadians' strong connection to water, the poll reveals a significant knowledge gap: 51% do not feel well informed about the state of freshwater in Canada, while 37% do not know where their tap water comes from.
The poll also finds strong support for building Canada's scientific capacity, with 93% saying independent, long-term freshwater research is important.
"Canada has an extraordinary legacy of freshwater research and technological innovation; you cannot protect what you do not understand," said Pauline Gerrard, Executive Director, IISD Experimental Lakes Area. "Long-term science provides Canadians with the evidence needed to understand how freshwater systems are changing and make informed decisions about their future."
Canadians also strongly support protecting freshwater ecosystems. The poll found that 92% support the use of Ecologically Significant Area designations. Even when told those protections could limit construction, resource extraction or industrial development, 90% still agreed that protecting aquatic ecosystems should take priority.
"What stands out is how strongly support for freshwater protection holds even when Canadians are presented with potential trade-offs," said Joseph Wasylycia-Leis, Senior Freshwater Conservation Campaigner, Oceans North. "The findings on Ecologically Significant Areas show Canadians place real value on protecting important aquatic ecosystems for the future."
The polling also points to expectations for stronger and more inclusive water governance, with 75% supporting Indigenous governments being directly involved or having a formal decision-making role in water decisions.
"Water does not respect jurisdictional boundaries, and our governance needs to reflect that," said Ralph Pentland, Forum for Leadership on Water (FLOW). "Canadians support a right to safe drinking water and a meaningful role for Indigenous governments in water decisions."
Quick Facts
- The research was conducted online, in English and French, from August 20 to 31, 2026, with 1,239 Canadian adults, balanced for region, age and gender in line with the 2021 Census.
- The research was commissioned by AquaAction, with support from Fondation de Gaspé Beaubien, IISD Experimental Lakes Area, Forum for Leadership on Water (FLOW), the Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources, and Oceans North.
- The full report is available to download on AquaAction's website: https://aquaaction.org/en/press-releases/public-opinion-research-2026
About AquaAction
At AquaAction, we develop leaders to protect and restore our most vital resource: freshwater. We empower people, from young innovators to community advocates, through innovation, advocacy and conservation. By supporting entrepreneurship, advancing education and awareness, and driving policy change, we help communities build resilience and ensure access to clean water for generations to come. https://aquaaction.org/en/
SOURCE AquaAction
Media Contacts: Oliver Anderson, Vice-President, Communications and Growth, AquaAction, [email protected]; Bridget Wayland, Director of Communications and Media Relations, AquaAction, [email protected]
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