Katrine Conroy, Minister Responsible for the Columbia River Treaty, has released the following statement on the next round of treaty negotiations:

“Canada and the United States will meet virtually for a one-day session on Dec. 9, 2021, to continue discussions about the future of the Columbia River Treaty.

“At the last round of negotiations in June 2020, Canada tabled a proposal outlining a framework for a modernized treaty, developed collaboratively by Canada, B.C. and Columbia Basin Indigenous Nations.

“The two countries have been in talks to modernize the historical transboundary agreement since May 2018, and have covered a range of topics over the course of 10 rounds of meetings. The key areas of interest are flood risk management, hydroelectric power and ecosystems. Canada has also raised the issues of increasing co-ordination of Libby Dam operations and increasing flexibility for Canadian operations.

“The Canadian negotiating team, which includes Canada, B.C. and the Ktunaxa, Secwépemc and Syilx Okanagan Nations, has continued its co-operative efforts over the past year and a half, advancing work to strengthen Canadian positions and seek improvements in the basin. Input from local governments and residents continue to inform this work.

“I am pleased to see these discussions moving forward and am confident that, as long as both Canada and the United States recognize the value in continuing to create and equitably share benefits between our two countries, we will be successful in modernizing the treaty.”

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Columbia River Treaty Team,
Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation
PO Box 9314 Stn Prov Govt,
Victoria, BC
V8W 9N1