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Columbia River Treaty
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Columbia River Treaty Review
The Columbia River Treaty is a trans-boundary water management agreement between the United States and Canada. The Columbia River Treaty has no specified end date. Either Canada or the United States can terminate most of the agreement provisions as early as September 16, 2024, provided they give at least 10 years’ notice.
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Provincial Consultation Continues at the Treaty Technical Conference in March
In March 2013, the Columbia River Treaty Review team plans to host technical conferences that will include more in-depth information and a further opportunity for dialogue and consultation on the future of the Columbia River Treaty. To reach more Basin residents, and still provide the opportunity for face-to-face cross-Basin exchange, the Review team plan to hold two one-day conferences: in Golden and in Castlegar. Read more
Now Available Online – Full Report of Impacts and Benefits of the Columbia River Treaty
During the May/June 2012 community sessions, Columbia River Basin residents told the Columbia River Treaty Review team that they wanted to fully understand the range of impacts and benefits of the Columbia River Treaty on Basin communities, the Columbia River Basin region, and the Province as a whole. In response to this request, the Treaty Review team engaged the former Regional Innovation Chair in Rural Economic Development at Selkirk College to ‘paint the picture’ of the current state of knowledge of Canadian Columbia River Basin area benefits and impacts arising from the Columbia River Treaty and its associated dams in a report.
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Question of the Month: Canadian Entitlement
Under Article V of the Columbia River Treaty, Canada is entitled to one half of the additional potential downstream power benefits, in energy and capacity, that can be generated in the United States as a result of the water flow management from British Columbia storage reservoirs. Canada’s portion of these downstream power benefits is called the Canadian Entitlement. In 1963, under the Canada- British Columbia Agreement, Canada transferred the benefits and obligations of the Treaty to the Province of British Columbia. In 1964 the Province pre-sold the first 30 years of the Canadian Entitlement for a lump sum of US$254 million. These funds were used to help finance the construction of the Columbia River Treaty dams. After the 30 year sale period expired, the benefits began to return to B.C. beginning in 1998, and reverted to full provincial control in April 2003.
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November Community Consultation Workshops Completed
The Columbia River Treaty Review team met with over 360 Basin residents during the consultation workshops held between November 14 and November 29 in eight Columbia Basin communities: Jaffray, Creston, Revelstoke, Golden, Valemount, Nelson, Trail and Nakusp. The session in Trail was streamed live and 17 people participated. In addition, the Treaty Review team met with area elected officials in meetings held in Cranbrook and Castlegar and with a community organization in Nakusp. The Treaty Review team made a particular effort to encourage youth to attend the consultation workshops, contacting a number of high schools and instructors at College of the Rockies and Selkirk College. Read more
Consultation Workshop Streamed Live: What Does That Mean?
The Columbia River Treaty Review team recognizes that it is not always possible for Basin residents to attend a community consultation workshop, even if the workshop is held in their community. In order to reach more Basin residents, the Treaty Review team streamed the November 28 community consultation workshop in Trail live. Streaming the workshop live meant Basin residents could listen to presentations and view PowerPoint slides as it was happening from a computer at a location of their choice.
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Treaty Review Decision Making Process
During the November community consultation workshops many people asked how the decision on the future of the Columbia River Treaty will be made and who will make it. The answer is, it is a two step process.
The provincial Columbia River Treaty team is mandated to make recommendations to the provincial Cabinet on the strategic decision of whether the Treaty should be terminated, continued or enhanced or modified in some way. The provincial Cabinet does not have a set timeline to make a decision. If the Province wishes to terminate the Treaty, it will advise the federal government as only Canada can terminate an international agreement.
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