Issue 94 – 26, March 22, 2026
Protecting a Vital Resource
Today, March 22 is World Water Day, a special day to remind us that access to clean, safe drinking water is a basic human right. Unfortunately, many people around the world and even in our own country face serious water problems. Water is essential for life, but today, there are challenges that threaten its availability and safety.
In Canada, many Indigenous communities are still waiting for safe drinking water. More than 39 communities have had long-term water advisories in place, meaning they cannot drink tap water safely. Some have gone without clean water for over 25 years. This is a big problem that Indigenous leaders call a "national scandal." They are urging the government to fix this issue quickly, but progress has been slow.
At the same time, a report from the United Nations in early 2026 warns that the world has entered an era of "global water bankruptcy." This means many water systems are so overused or polluted that they might never recover. Canada, with its many lakes and rivers, is not immune to this crisis.
While communities struggle to get clean water, some of the world's richest companies are using huge amounts of water for their artificial intelligence (AI) data centers. These centers need water to cool their computers. For example, a Microsoft data center in Etobicoke uses up to 1.2 billion liters of water each year, that's like filling 500 Olympic-sized swimming pools! Another in Vaughan uses about 730 million liters annually. Globally, data centers used around 140 billion liters of water in 2023 alone, and this number will grow as AI technology becomes more popular.
The government has invested hundreds of millions of dollars to attract data centers, but little attention has been given to how much water they use. Some facilities, like one in Varennes, Quebec, have operated without proper water meters, making it hard to know how much water they consume. In the Netherlands, a Microsoft facility used more than four times its promised water amount, while residents were asked to cut back on water use.
Water belongs to everyone, people, communities, and nature. Yet right now, some of the wealthiest corporations are taking large amounts of water, while many First Nations communities still can't drink safe tap water. This imbalance needs to be addressed.
The federal government should eliminate all long-term water advisories in Indigenous communities.
When approving new data centers, governments should set strict rules on how much water they can use, with open reporting and monitoring.
Local governments must ensure that new data centers do not take water away from homes and communities, especially in areas prone to drought.
Indigenous communities must give their free, prior, and informed consent before water is allocated from their lands.
Water is a shared resource, and it should not be used secretly by big companies while communities go without safe water. The United Nations has warned that treating water as an unlimited resource is no longer possible. We all need to work together to protect this precious resource.
The new Canada Water Agency was created to work with provinces, territories, Indigenous peoples, and others to keep our water safe and clean. It is responsible for collecting data, monitoring water quality, and sharing information with the public.
The government has also invested in better water monitoring systems across the country. For example, they have improved technology to track water flow and quality in rivers and lakes.
Canada faces challenges like floods, droughts, and pollution, it is a right, not a privilege, and we must all do our part to protect it. That means holding companies accountable, supporting Indigenous communities, and working together to keep our water safe and clean. On this World Water Day, let’s remember that water belongs to all of us, and we have a responsibility to care for it.
CURC’s resolution to the upcoming NDP Convention:
Investing in Watershed Security for a Climate-Resilient Canada
Whereas: A healthy watershed is foundational public infrastructure that supports clean drinking water, flood and drought resilience, wildfire risk reduction, biodiversity and stable local economies; climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of water-related disasters across Canada, imposing mounting costs on communities and governments; Indigenous Peoples have stewarded water and landscapes since time immemorial, and effective watershed protection requires co-governance and respect for Indigenous rights; community-led watershed initiatives create local jobs while enhancing resilience.
Be It Resolved: That the New Democratic Party of Canada commit to sustained federal investment in watershed security as integral to climate adaptation and disaster prevention; prioritize community-based watershed planning, protection and restoration; support Indigenous-led and co-governed watershed initiatives; and ensure funding mechanisms enable long-term, place-based action with local economic and ecological benefits.
Elimination of Racial Discrimination
Yesterday, on March 21, the world observed the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. This day reminds us of the importance of fighting racial discrimination and promoting equality. While many people think about racism as just hurtful words or unfair treatment, it has deeper effects, especially on health and aging.
Many believe that aging well depends on lifestyle choices. Eating healthy food, exercising regularly, and staying socially connected are important. In Canada, health policies often tell individuals to take care of themselves to age better. But what if some people don’t age the same way? What if some bodies age faster? And why?
Scientists now understand that racism isn’t just a social problem, it can also be a health problem. Chronic stress caused by racism, like constantly facing discrimination or prejudice, can harm the body. This idea is called “weathering.” It explains how ongoing exposure to racism can cause the body to age faster and increase the risk of serious illnesses like heart disease, diabetes, and dementia.
Research shows that racism can do damage at a biological level. This means that people who face racism regularly may develop health problems earlier than others. For example, studies show that older migrants from racialized groups are more likely to have dementia, sometimes three or four times more likely than others. These differences aren’t just about culture or lifestyle, they are linked to lifelong exposure to racism.
Most health programs focus on individual choices, like eating well or exercising. But they rarely consider how social factors like racism affect health. Ignoring racism as a cause of health problems is like ignoring the storm while pretending the weather is fine. To truly help people age healthily, we need policies that fight racism itself, addressing unfair treatment in housing, jobs, education, and healthcare.
First, we must recognize racism as a factor influencing health. This means collecting data and monitoring how racism affects people’s bodies over their lifetime. Second, policies should include anti-racism efforts as part of health promotion for older adults. Third, we must listen to and learn from the knowledge within racialized communities. Many cultures have practices that help people stay resilient despite discrimination, but mainstream health systems often overlook this wisdom.
Reports show that racial discrimination is increasing, especially among Black and Muslim communities. Many older migrants face ongoing racism that harms their health. It is urgent to invest in research, create fair policies, and include the voices of racialized communities in decision-making.
On this International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, let’s commit to recognizing its impact on aging and health. Only then can we build a fairer society where everyone can age with dignity and good health.
Read more - Racism Statistics in Canada | Made in CA
The Constitutional Questions Amendment Act
Recently, MFUR President Paul Moist made a presentation to the Manitoba Standing Committee on Justice in support of Bill 4, The Constitutional Questions Amendment Act.
Bill 4 seeks to preserve fundamental human rights, including labour rights from the tyranny of the use of the notwithstanding clause to set aside such fundamental rights.
MFUR's presentation:
The Manitoba Federation of Union Retirees (MFUR) is the Manitoba affiliate of the 500,000 member Congress of Union Retirees of Canada
(CURC), chartered by the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC). We are retired union activists and proud members of the Manitoba Federation of Labour (MFL).
We appear this evening to support Bill 4. The use of section 33 of the Charter, the notwithstanding clause, to set aside fundamental human rights, is a worrisome trend. Bill 4 will ensure that all such legislation, should it be introduced in Manitoba, must first seek the Court of Appeals’ view on whether the legislation violates section 2 or sections 7 to 15 of the Charter, and whether the legislation is reasonable and demonstrably justified pursuant to section 1 of the Charter.
Our focus will be on labour rights, which we argue are Charter protected and of fundamental importance in any democracy. Labour rights are, after
all, human rights. The use of the notwithstanding clause to end legal labour strikes was first used in Saskatchewan in 1986. The legislation was ultimately withdrawn when the Supreme Court found that the legislation did not violate the Charters freedom of association clause. Charter interpretation has evolved since 1986, with the seminal SFL case in 2015 affirming that the right to strike was a fundamental feature of free collective bargaining rights and was therefore, Charter protected
The next example of the use of Section 33 in a labour matter was the 2022 decision by the Ontario government to strip 55,000 education support workers of their legal right to strike. The workers, with massive public support, vowed to strike notwithstanding the introduction of Bill 28, the Keeping Students in Class Act, which provided for massive fines for individuals and unions should they strike.
Bill 28 was introduced on October 31, 2022, and received Royal Assent on Nov 3rd, 2022. On November 8th, 2022, the government announced it would not act on the legislation, and the union announced it would return to the bargaining table. The legislation was repealed on November 14th, 2022, and a negotiated deal was achieved on November 20th, 2022, and subsequently ratified by both parties.
The latest example of the use of Section 33 involves the Alberta government and their public-school teacher’s last fall. After legal strike action of 23 days duration, the government introduced Bill 2, The Back to School Act. The Canadian Civil Liberties Association called the legislation, “unhealthy for Canadian democracy.”
The bargaining remains unresolved and the legislation is being challenged in the courts. Professor Jason Foster of Athabasca University stated, “Alberta’s move is unprecedented in provincial labour history and only the third such use in Canada….It kind of makes a mockery of collective bargaining.”
Canada’s federation of labour leadership, representing over 3 million unionized workers, called Bill 28, “profoundly dangerous” saying, “when rights become optional, they cease to be rights.”
Bill 4 seeks to preserve fundamental human rights, including labour rights from the tyranny of the use of the notwithstanding clause to set aside such fundamental rights. It is good legislation and we hope it receives the unanimous support of legislature.
Paul Moist, President
Manitoba Federation of Union Retirees