Exploring the Reluctance to Embrace Water Markets in Alberta, Canada

摘要: Politically Alberta has acknowledged the need to reallocate existing water allocations meet future demand using voluntary transfers. However, support for markets among irrigators been slow emerge, laws do not allow private entities buy and hold in-stream needs general public there a high level of skepticism opposition in response early attempts or share held by irrigation district. This threatens ability Alberta’s Water Life strategy achieve its objective meeting supply sustainable manner. chapter explores reasons this reluctance across southern series surveys other residents conducted over 9 year period identifies issues concern stakeholder groups which be taken into account when marketing sharing policies. We find distinct variation policy preferences region depending on scarcity, environmental degradation economic dependence experienced space. Irrigators’ willingness with sectors economy depends context purpose.