The Canadian Water Agency is hiring for its new Winnipeg headquarters

Canada's water agency has begun hiring staff for its headquarters in Winnipeg ahead of its official launch as a new federal entity, Winnipeg South MP Terry Duguid said Friday.

Duguid, the federal Liberal government's water adviser, said about half of the 215 staff slated to work at the new agency will be based at its headquarters in a downtown Winnipeg office tower.

The Liberal government announced the creation of the new agency on federal budget day 2023. The House of Commons has yet to pass legislation that would allow it to operate as a new stand-alone departmental agency, Duguid said.

The water agency currently operates as a branch of Environment and Climate Change Canada, he said.

Duguid said the new agency is needed to coordinate federal efforts to improve water quality, conduct freshwater science and manage water resources.

“Because of climate change, we're whipsawed between floods, droughts, wildfires and everything in between,” Duguid said in an interview. “That's why we need a center to coordinate water.”

Duguid said one of the agency's initial tasks will be to update the 53-year-old Canadian Water Act.

The South Winnipeg MP, who has spent five years trying to get the agency started, said he hopes it will be officially launched this spring.

This was not because of opposition to Bill C-59, the bill to introduce the Fall Economic Statement, the introduction of a digital services tax and changes to the income tax and competition rules, among other changes.

CBC News has asked the opposition Conservative Party for comment on the creation of the new water agency.