Education and Outreach

In the area of water management, many different tools are used to support the achievement of our goals with respect to the resource. In many instances, the traditional focus on enforcement and compliance is complemented by more collective solutions that emphasize participation, cooperation, and behavioural change.

Education and outreach, for instance, are complementary instruments that are often used in combination with regulation to encourage compliance with water conservation and water quality protection measures. Informational and educational materials are used extensively by all order of government to promote responsible behaviour and to inform consumers of the water situation and its impacts. Public awareness campaigns, comprehensive Websites, information workshops, dissemination of educational programming and materials, and a wide range of field activities are among the many ways in which Canadians and their communities receive information and learn how to act on it.

In addition to its outreach and awareness activities, Environment Canada makes funding, incentive, rebate and other financial programs available to individuals and organizations to build capacity and support activities that foster environmental sustainability. Many of the projects that receive funding favourably impact our freshwater resources. To learn more about these programs, visit the Funding section of Environment Canada's Web site.

See Also