The Draft Public Consultation Report is a compilation of the input received during community consultations in 2012 and 2013 and will accompany the final recommendation to the Province . The views of Basin residents were collected during three rounds of community meetings (18 meetings in all) and a technical conference, as well as from individual meetings, letters, emails, telephone calls, and Facebook, Twitter and blog posts. The Treaty Review Team also consulted with the Columbia River Treaty Local Governments’ Committee and with the Sounding Board, a group of knowledgeable Basin residents.

The input received during the public consultation process indicates there is not a Basin-wide consensus on most of the issues raised during the community meetings. Each community is unique and experiences Treaty related impacts, benefits, opportunities and challenges differently. In addition, while there are synergies across the region and sub-regions, each community has their own aspirations for the future. However, areas of general agreement or trends were identified and can serve to guide the provincial government in considering options on the future of the Treaty. General agreement was found in the following areas:

• Future Treaty decision
• Flood risk management
• Libby Dam
• Power generation
• Ecosystems
• Socio-economic benefits
• Climate change
• Governance

The Treaty Review Team is asking Basin residents to review and comment on the Draft Public Consultation report. To view the draft report and provide feedback online, please visit blog.gov.bc.ca/columbiarivertreaty/

The Ministry of Energy and Mines has released a draft recommendation on the future of the Treaty. The Province is seeking feedback from Basin residents on the draft recommendation - to continue the Columbia River Treaty and seek improvements within the existing Treaty framework - and the 14 underlying principles that will inform any potential future negotiations. The draft recommendation and principles were developed from input received by Basin residents to date. To view the draft recommendation document and provide feedback, please visit: blog.gov.bc.ca/columbiarivertreaty