Province Hosts 12 Community Meetings in Fall of 2019

In a follow-up to the community meetings held throughout the B.C. Columbia Basin in 2018, the B.C. government hosted a further 12 sessions in October and November 2019.  These sessions served to update residents about the current Canada-U.S. Columbia River Treaty negotiations, and work being done to address some of the key interests that have been raised by Basin residents since the Province started to review the Treaty in 2012.

The meetings drew over 300 people, many who have been following the Treaty for years, and others who were new to the Treaty and wanted to learn.  There were more young people in attendance than have been at previous meetings, bringing fresh perspectives and sharp questions.  A welcomed shift, as Treaty veterans have been expressing the need for more youth involvement to continue stewardship of the Basin for years to come.

The Columbia River Treaty Local Governments’ Committee began each meeting by sharing how they have been raising Treaty issues with their counterparts across the Basin.  They also presented their updated recommendations to the Province and Canada.

Canadian negotiators from Ottawa joined each session by video to provide an update on Canada-U.S. Treaty discussions and to answer questions in real time.  B.C.’s lead negotiator added the Province’s perspective, and Columbia Basin Indigenous Nations representatives shared their thoughts on the negotiations, in particular the significance of their involvement as official observers.  All speakers described how cohesive the Canadian negotiating team is, and how valuable the Indigenous Nations’ involvement has been.  The negotiators explained that, to date, Canada and the U.S. have been focused on sharing information and working towards a common understanding of each country’s interests.  They also said that the input Basin citizens have been sharing since 2012 guides the Canadian team’s negotiating positions.

One of the most significant issues raised by Basin residents over the years is the need to enhance ecosystems that are affected by Treaty operations.  Indigenous Nation representatives presented the work they are leading to address ecosystem issues, and also spoke about the efforts underway towards reintroducing salmon to the upper Columbia River.  These topics generated many questions, including: how can the Treaty balance ecosystem needs with flood risk management and power objectives; does the ecosystem work consider climate change; and would salmon be able to survive if they reached the upper Columbia River?

A consistent theme heard across the Basin in 2018 was the need to acknowledge what was lost when the Treaty dams were created.  In the final presentation of the 2019 meetings, the Province shared early details of a Heritage Project that seeks to begin that acknowledgement. This project proposes a tourism route throughout the Canadian Basin that tells stories of the region’s history with the Treaty, from each community’s perspective.  The Province also spoke briefly about other projects they are working on to address community interests such as dyking concerns in Creston, fish passage at Duncan Dam, and agriculture support.

Audience members thought the meetings provided a good update on progress that has been made on the Treaty since 2018.  They appreciated having federal and provincial negotiators available to answer their questions.  Though many would have liked to hear more detail on what is being negotiated, they understood that much of that information is confidential, or hasn’t been discussed at this stage.  People were pleased to see the Indigenous Nations’ involvement in negotiations and for the chance to ask them questions directly at these meetings.  They supported the Heritage Project and are eager to see more progress on other community interests.

The 2019 community meetings were a continuation of the Province of B.C.’s Columbia River Treaty public engagement process, which began in 2012.  The meetings are part of a broader effort to connect with Basin residents, something governments of the day did not do when the Treaty was developed in the early ‘60s.

A summary report of all 12 meetings will be available in Spring 2020.

Presentations and materials from the meetings can be viewed online  at https://engage.gov.bc.ca/columbiarivertreaty/2019-community-meetings/

Minister Conroy’s opening remarks at the Genelle meeting can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyXtipuP99g

A two-part video of the full meeting in Nelson, B.C., on November 13, 2019 is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_p1Y0UjV4E&t=1s