As the development of a Canadian Freshwater Agency (CWA) is undertaken, we must keep in mind that our freshwater is not an endless resource. We have to live with our finite water resources and understand that we are all responsible to keep water healthy and accessible to everyone. Access to clean water is a basic human right, mandated by many countries, including the United Nations. The development of any Canadian wide strategy for water management must first and foremost integrate a human rights-based approach, ensuring the rights of individuals and communities are met, and the obligations of industry and organizations are understood. Freshwater should not be thought of as a separate (or self-contained) issue from the rest of the hydrosphere and cryospheric systems of our planet. The impact of hemispheric and especially Arctic climate on freshwater in the mid and lower latitudes in Canada is integral to understanding how to manage freshwater resources. Neither the effects of climate change directly on the hydrology and water quality within Continental Canada nor its relationship to the oceans has been mentioned within the CWA document.