1. Global trade agenda

Welcome to 2017, where some have declared that Canada has lost control of its global trade agenda. There is great uncertainty around NAFTA, Brexit, the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP), Latin America, and India and what these agreements will mean for Canadian trade. This uncertainty is challenging for technology providers who invest time and money identifying prospects with great uncertainty around the costs of doing business due to trade tariffs and rules of origin. However, we do have the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). It’s time for Canadian water tech companies to get out there.
How CETA will Impact the Water Sector

2. Abuzz with bits

The water sector is still trying to get a firm grasp around the last twenty years of technological change. Meanwhile, the rate of technological change is only increasing. AI, IoT, blockchain, these buzzworthy technologies are in the process of permeating every corner of society. How will they impact water? No one can know for sure, but there’s big money in speculation (as bitcoin has proven).
Artificial Intelligence—Set to Transform the Water Industry


3. Tailings end

It’s hard to applaud an industry that has left over a trillion litres of tailings water buried in the ground, but it can’t be denied that the industry is a significant part of the nation’s economy. Equally undeniable: this economic giant is investing heavily in modernizing its practices to lessen its impact. Spurred by government, public perception, or otherwise, it’s promising to see a move in the direction of sustainability from an industry that has become synonymous with unsustainable.
Mining Supercluster Seeks Canadian Water Technology Partners


4. US vs. them

One of the biggest challenges for any Canadian startup is taking a solution to other markets, and one of the friendliest and most tantalizing markets to crack happens to be one of the most challenging: the United States. It’s great news, then, that WaterTAP has partnered with WE&RF to help Canadian solutions in the U.S. market.
Canada-U.S. Partnership to Accelerate Water Technologies Innovation


5. Can-China go blue?

In August, Water Canada reported on the enormous opportunities for Canadian cleantech companies interested in doing business in China. A whopping 3,300 projects amounting to a total investment of around 300 billion yuan ($56 billion CAD) for 228 prefectural cities concerning water pollution control will be added to the national project pool. That’s why we are encouraged to see our government’s persistence in trying to strike a free trade agreement with China to take advantage while remaining committed to pursue policies that promote sustainable development.

Late in the year, Environment Minister Catherine McKenna accompanied a group of Canadian cleantech firms—many focused on water—to show off our wares.
Canada-China Cleantech Mission Celebrates Water


More water.


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