On June 29 and 30, 2020, negotiators representing Canada and the United States reconvened for the tenth round of talks regarding the future of the Columbia River Treaty.  Due to COVID-19, this round of negotiations was held virtually.

During this session, the Canadian negotiating team tabled a proposal for a modernized Treaty.  The proposal, developed collaboratively by Canada, B.C. and Columbia Basin Indigenous Nations, came in response to a framework that U.S. negotiators tabled during the previous round of discussions in March.

The comprehensive Canadian proposal outlined a framework for a future agreement and covered the range of issues that have been discussed since negotiations began in 2018, such as flood-risk management, power generation, ecosystem function, Libby dam coordination and increased flexibility for Canadian operations.  The proposal drew on input that negotiators have received over the years from a wide range of voices in the Columbia Basin, including those of Indigenous Nations, the Columbia River Treaty Local Governments’ Committee, the Columbia Basin Regional Advisory Committee, and residents who have attended the Province’s many Columbia River Treaty community meetings since 2012.  The proposal also reflects Canada’s expectations that, to be successful, a modernized Treaty must be mutually beneficial to both Canada and the U.S.

The current negotiations are confidential, so no specific details of Canada’s proposal or the U.S. framework can be made public.  The exchange does not mean that Canada and the U.S. are close to reaching an agreement – there is still more work to do.  However, it does show that the cross-border talks have moved beyond building an understanding of respective priorities and towards more substantive discussions where an agreement can be reached.

There is no deadline or timeline for how long negotiations might take; however, the Canadian negotiating team is committed to working hard towards making progress, and ultimately achieving a successful agreement that is in the best interest of B.C.

When the discussions between the two countries have sufficiently advanced and options become clear, B.C. has committed to engage Canadian Basin Indigenous Nations, local governments, citizens and stakeholders on key decisions before an agreement is reached.

Although the next round of talks has not yet been scheduled, the process continues as Canada, B.C. and Indigenous Nations collaborate on advancing ecosystem function studies, and domestic matters related to the Treaty.  Updates will be shared through future editions of this newsletter, and through the Province’s Columbia River Treaty Facebook and Twitter pages.