KUCHING: Sarawak will be taking Canada as a model in the management and governance of its hydro dams and water usage because of the country’s strong and long experience in these areas. Also of significance to Sarawak’s position vis-a-vis the federal government is the level of autonomy of provinces, notably, Quebec from the Canadian central government that would become a useful reference for the state to determine its stance on issues involving the state and federal relationships. Chief Minister, Datuk Patinggi (Dr) Abang Johari Tun Openg stated this at the end of his study visit to the Province of Ontario in Canada.
Abang Johari and his delegation arrived in Toronto last Monday for a four-day visit. Canada, in particular, Ontario, has a long history and reputation for hydro power generation with the first hydro plant built about 100 years ago. Hydro power plants produce more than 70,000 MW of power in Canada which is only second to China.
The Chief Minister said the visit had demonstrated to his delegation how water was treated as a precious commodity to generate economic returns for the country, particularly Ontario. He said he was particularly impressed with how various types of legislation had been introduced in the province to regulate the many uses of water compared to Sarawak which had practically none.
The Ontario water legislation had also provided a clear picture of what came under federal and provincial jurisdiction in Canada in the governance of the extensive system of water bodies in the country, including the Great Lakes, he added. Abang Johari pointed out that Ontario even had a special institution to conduct research on water, citing the Water Institute at the University of Waterloo near Toronto.
The Water Institute were among the various places of interest included in the Chief Minister’s itinerary in Ontario. He capped his visit by visiting the Sir Adam Beck Hydro Power Station near the world famous Niagara Falls on Wednesday. While at the station, the Chief Minister and members of his delegation were briefed, among others, on the station’s water management plan, management of dams and public safety risks and the relationship between dams and agriculture.
Abang Johari said Sarawak had to learn from Ontario about various aspects of water management such as water policy, water legislation, water research, development of water bodies and environmental enforcement and compliance. The things learned during the trip would be useful inputs in Sarawak’s desire to formulate a water policy and water legislation in order to turn water into a precious economic asset, he pointed out.
The delegation also toured Toronto Island Park where they were briefed by the park’s supervisor how the park had been developed into an important income generator for Toronto City Council.
Members of the delegation included the Minister of Utilities, Dato Sri Stephen Rundi Utom, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports, Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah and the State Secretary, Tan Sri Datuk Amar Haji Mohamad Morshidi bin Abdul Ghani. Also in the delegation were the Assistant Minister of Water Supplies, Datuk Liwan Lagang, Assistant Minister of Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment Datuk Len Talif Salleh, Member of Parliament for Kapit, Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi and key officials of various relevant agencies.
