Western Provinces Preparing for Another Year of Drought

A field near Saskatoon on March 26, 2024. Snow cover across parts of the Prairies is lower than normal, and several provinces are planning for a potential drought. (Doug Lett/The Epoch Times)

The snow is not completely melted off the fields in many parts of Western Canada, but already farmers and governments are planning for what could be another year of serious drought.

“Right now, we are in probably the most significant drought situation that we’ve seen since 2001,” Alberta Environment Minister Rebecca Schulz told a news conference in Edmonton on March 25.

“It’s not just in Alberta. I believe over 70 percent of Canada is experiencing these types of drought conditions with El Niño this spring.”

Ms. Schulz was announcing funding for a variety of water conservation projects, including a pilot project that may be able to more efficiently treat wastewater from cities and towns. El Niño refers to a warming trend in the Pacific Ocean that can result in warmer temperatures in the Americas.

“Water is absolutely one of our most precious resources,” she added. “Now more than ever, we have to find new and better ways to make every drop count.”

Alberta has also announced a new water advisory committee that will serve as “an independent sounding board” as the province works with communities, businesses, farmers, and ranchers to better manage water.

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For the first time since the 2001 drought, Alberta’s drought command team is negotiating with major water users in several river basins, including the Oldman River and Red Deer River basins.

“If a severe drought occurs, these agreements would see major users use less water to help others downstream,” said a Jan. 31 news release.

The Manitoba Wildfire Services (MWS) sent out an advisory on March 26, warning that widespread dry conditions could lead to a higher wildfire danger across most of the province this spring.

“The forecast for the next few weeks is primarily quite dry,” the advisory said, warning of “a risk of grass and brush fires in open areas as snow melts.”

In Saskatchewan, the province’s Water Security Agency (WSA) predicts spring runoff will range from below normal to well below normal in many areas.

“Although the recent snowfall will help our situation and our producers this spring, we as a government will still be prepared to help those areas with dry conditions,” said David Marit, minister responsible for the WSA in a March 12 news release.

Southwest parts of Saskatchewan are among the worst.

“I would say that some producers in that area have had probably six years, maybe seven years, of consecutive drought,” Ray Orb, president of the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities, told The Epoch Times.

“Some have sold off part of their livestock herds, trying to deal with the drought and keep their operations going.”

The Association of Agricultural Producers of Saskatchewan (APAS) has called for a provincial drought preparedness committee to coordinate government and other efforts to handle what could be another year of drought.

“The recent increase in frequency and severity of drought events underscores the pressing need for immediate action to better prepare for these challenges,” said APAS President Ian Boxall in a news release.

In the March 20 provincial budget, Saskatchewan announced funding for 38 more weather stations around the province to provide more information on weather and moisture conditions, as well as more money for risk management programs for farmers, such as crop insurance.

The impact of droughts is felt by everyone, not only those connected with forestry or farming, since they can affect what consumers pay at the grocery store.

“I think it always does affect food prices,” Mr. Orb said. “This drought is affecting a large part of the Prairie provinces where, between Saskatchewan and Alberta, we’ve got 90 percent of the beef cattle herd in this country.”

In addition, he said, a lot of jobs around the country depend on agriculture.

“All the way from the farm to the plate, so to speak, there are a lot of jobs that are created, a lot of people who rely on our food not only in our country, but around the world,” he said.

The numbers back him up.

The federal government estimates that in 2022, agriculture was worth about $148 billion to Canada’s economy, directly or indirectly employing about 2.3 million people—about one out of every nine jobs in the country.

‘Incredibly Difficult’

British Columbia is also planning for another dry year.

“Last year’s wildfire season was the worst in our province’s history, and we know how incredibly difficult it was for everyone,” said B.C. Forests Minister Bruce Ralston in a March 18 news release.

The release said parts of the province are experiencing persistent drought, with average snowpack at 66 percent of the average from 1991–2020.

“Until significant and sustained rains occur, the risk of ignition will remain elevated,” said the release.

After B.C.’s record wildfire season in 2023, the provincial government set up the Premier’s Expert Task Force on Emergencies, resulting in enhanced wildfire predictive technologies, better support for evacuees, and expanded firefighting tools for BC Wildfire Service crews.

“Our top priority is keeping people safe, which is why we continue to take significant action to prevent and prepare for wildfires as we head into spring and summer,” Mr. Ralston said.

In 2023, fires burned some 2.84 million hectares in B.C., and destroyed or damaged more than 600 homes. Over 48,000 people were evacuated.

At the news conference in Edmonton, Alberta’s Environment Minister said the province’s need for water is only going to increase in the years to come.

“We need to use water more efficiently, so that communities and businesses alike can grow and thrive,” Ms. Schulz told reporters.