A table set for five : perceptions of water governance in Alberta

Abstract

The province of Alberta has adopted a collaborative water governance process to enhance sustainability. Introduced in 2003, the Water for Life strategy established three governance partnerships to integrate public stakeholders into a collaborative decision making process: the Alberta Water Council, Water Planning and Advisory Councils, and Watershed Stewardship Groups. An evaluation of the current water governance process will identify if it is meeting the criteria of an effective process. For such evaluations, “good governance” is commonly used. Although no widely accepted definition exists, five pillars have been selected to signify good governance: participation, transparency, accountability, adaptability and the rule of law. The presence of these five criteria has been identified through analysing stakeholder perceptions within the South Saskatchewan Region. Five perceptions of the current water governance process were identified using the Q‐method. This information can inform ways to strengthen and preserve elements of the current water governance system in Alberta.