On February 9, 1999, the NDP moved the following motion in the House of Commons.

“That, in the opinion of this House, the government should, in co-operation with the provinces, place an immediate moratorium on the export of bulk freshwater shipments and inter-basin transfers and introduce legislation to prohibit bulk freshwater exports and inter-basin transfers, and should abrogate or refuse to sign any international agreement that compels us to export freshwater against our will, in order to assert Canada’s sovereign right to protect, preserve and conserve our freshwater resources for future generations.”

This motion passed unanimously. Although the governing Liberals supported the motion, they have refused to act on it. Instead they have proposed a series of half-hearted measures that do not add up to a national ban on bulk water exports.