As the Lake Diefenbaker irrigation project continues, some hope the province will pick up the pace, while others think better consultation and research are needed. But where is the Lake Diefenbaker project now? The $4-billion, three-stage irrigation project was announced in July 2020, with a plan to eventually irrigate some 202,000 hectares of land in southwestern and west central Saskatchewan with water from Lake Diefenbaker — doubling the amount of irrigable land in the province. Saskatchewan reported that in 2019 that irrigation accounted for 50 per cent of the water used in the province. Environmental concerns: FSINHeather Bear, a vice-chief with the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations, said First Nations weren't consulted about the Lake Diefenbaker irrigation project when it was announced.

Source: CBC News March 12, 2023 02:26 UTC