A water-conscious round table discussion in Guelph reached a general consensus that water in Canada ought to be declared a human right.

Over a dozen water activists, academics and municipal officials met Tuesday with federal Liberal water critic Francis Scarpaleggia, who is pushing for water to become a priority issue for his party and any future Liberal government.

"I'd like to see this issue become a priority for my caucus," said Scarpaleggia, MP for Lac-Saint-Louis (Quebec). "Our party takes ownership of this issue."

Scarpaleggia said every region of the country has its own specific water issues, and that the issue of preserving, protecting and managing the nation's water resources is a complicated one. He would like to see the creation of a junior ministry dedicated solely to water, since it is too important of an issue to be lumped into Environment Canada.

Guelph MP Frank Valeriote began the discussion by asking whether water should be declared a human right, as it has been in other countries.

Read the full story at the Guelph Mercury.