Okotoks Mayor Tanya Thorn is one of six community leaders appointed to Alberta’s new water advisory committee, the provincial government announced Feb. 7.
The committee will help Alberta prepare for a potential drought and work to make every drop of water count in 2024. It will act as an independent sounding board to help the provincial government support communities, farmers and ranchers, and businesses share, conserve and manage water.
The committee will give advice directly to Rebecca Schulz, Alberta’s minister of environment and protected areas.
“I am pleased to have been appointed to this committee and look forward to contributing to the advancement of water management in our province," said Thorn. "Water is our most precious commodity and Okotoks has been a provincial leader in water conservation for over 20 years. The year ahead will require all of us to work together.”
After several dry years, Alberta’s winter snowpack is well below average, many rivers are at record low levels and multiple reservoirs remain well below capacity. El Niño is producing a warm and dry winter across Western Canada and more than 70 per cent of the country is experiencing drought conditions. Alberta is at risk of a severe drought in parts of the province this year.
The committee will meet regularly to discuss ideas on how best to prepare for and respond to drought, give feedback on work already underway and suggest new ways to help manage water as fairly and efficiently as possible.
The members will also help identify long-term solutions to benefit future generations.
“This committee will provide me with ideas and perspectives from leaders across the province,” said Schulz. “They’ll share what they are hearing and seeing and help identify new or better ways to support families, farms, ranches and businesses if we face a severe drought this year.”
The six-person committee also includes Justin Wright, MLA for Cypress-Medicine Hat; Paul McLauchlin, reeve of Ponoka County and president of the Rural Municipalities of Alberta; Ian Anderson, former CEO of Trans Mountain; Alex Ostrop, chair of the Alberta Irrigation Districts Association; and Jack Royal, CEO of the Blackfoot Confederacy Tribal Council.
The committee will operate for one year and no remuneration will be provided to members other than reimbursement for travel expenses.
