WC133 NovDec 2023 - Magazine - Page 15
The panelists at
WEFTEC 2023 share
their insights on how
Canadian innovation
is shaping the future
of the water industry
globally.
Jen Smith
systems not only benefit Canadian companies but
also have the potential to improve water infrastructure beyond its borders.
Good, but not perfect
As primed as Canada is for water innovations, Kiely
challenged the idea that everything in Canada is
perfect, particularly on the regulatory side.
Li agreed with Kiely on the regulation front, noting
that Canadian municipalities are generally younger and
less experienced, making them less likely to be proactive
about their infrastructure. However, Li also pointed out
that there are upcoming opportunities in Canada for
companies to test new products without risk.
Walker also agreed with Kiely but expressed that
Canadian companies often wait for other countries
to prove a technology’s worth before adopting it
themselves.
Canadian companies are taking advantage of this
environment by focusing on creating adaptable, mod-
ular solutions that cater to Canada’s unique challenges, especially in rural and underfunded areas. As Li
noted: Canada’s geography and demographics—large
rural areas with small, underfunded municipalities—
have spurred many companies like his to develop
modular and easy-to-implement solutions. And
despite some hesitancy to adopt unproven technologies, the panelists agreed that Canada’s challenges are
compelling companies to create solutions that can
also be competitive on an international scale.
Buying Canadian
When asked about the benefits for U.S. utilities when
collaborating with Canadian water companies, the
resounding response among panelists was that there’s
more to Canada than maple syrup and polite manners—there’s solid financial backing and innovation
in spades.
Kiely emphasized the financial robustness of
early-stage Canadian firms, as compared to their U.S.
WATER C AN ADA • NOV EMBER/ DECEMBER 2023
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