The British Columbia province on Feb. 24 will be hosting a Virtual Town Hall on the Columbia River Treaty.
People from across the Columbia Basin and beyond will have a chance to hear from, and ask questions to, Canadian negotiators, Indigenous Nations, local government representatives and others involved in current efforts to modernize the transboundary Treaty.
Topics will not only include the current Canada-U.S. negotiations, but also ongoing Indigenous Nations-led ecosystem studies, Local Governments’ Committee updated recommendations and work underway domestically to address interests related to the Treaty.
The town hall will be from 6pm – 8:15pm Pacific Time, 7pm – 9:15pm Mountain Time.
The session will be held by Zoom, with an option to phone in for those who are not able to connect by web. A recording will be available afterwards.
Join Town Hall by web: https://ca01web.zoom.us/j/67343279632
Join Town Hall by phone: 1 833 955 1088 (Toll Free) Webinar ID: 673 4327 9632
Questions are encouraged to be submitted in advance to [email protected]
before 4pm PT / 5pm MT, on Feb. 18, 2021. Questions may be read out loud during the meeting, but will be kept anonymous.
Those who are new to the Columbia River Treaty, or are keen to learn more, are encouraged to browse the resources linked below.
— 2019 Community Meetings Summary Report https://engage.gov.bc.ca/app/uploads/sites/6/2020/07/2019-CRT-Community-Meetings-Report_Web-FINAL_updated.pdf
– summarizes what the Columbia River Treaty is, the lead-up to Canada-U.S. negotiations, progress accomplished as of 2019 in efforts to explore modernizing the Treaty, and a summary of public input and key issues for communities impacted by the Treaty.
— Columbia River Treaty Newsletters https://news.gov.bc.ca/newsletters/columbia-river-treaty/february-2020
– provide updates on the Treaty and related activities.
— About the Treaty https://engage.gov.bc.ca/columbiarivertreaty/about/
– details the Treaty’s history, structure, impacts and benefits.
— Ecosystem Function presentation from the 2019 Community
– describes Indigenous Nations-led work to enhance Columbia Basin ecosystems, as of September 2019.
— Columbia River Treaty Local Governments Committee Updated Recommendations https://akblg.ca/columbia_river_treaty.html
– details the Committee’s recommendations on the future of the Treaty and related domestic issues. Click the “Our Recommendations” tab on their website to view.
Also see:
— CBB, Dec. 31, 2020, COLUMBIA RIVER TREATY UPDATE: CONROY RETURNS AS B.C. MINISTER RESPONSIBLE FOR TREATY, PNW REPS. INTRODUCE TERMINATION NOTICE RESOLUTION https://www.www.www.columbiabasinbulletin.org/columbia-river-treaty-update-conroy-returns-as-b-c-minister-responsible-for-treaty-pnw-reps-introduce-termination-notice-resolution/
— CBB, August 6, 2020, MODERNIZING COLUMBIA RIVER TREATY: B.C. REPORT ON COMMUNITY MEETINGS SAYS THIS TIME BASIN RESIDENTS, INDIGENOUS NATIONS WILL BE ‘MEANINGFULLY CONSULTED’ https://www.www.www.columbiabasinbulletin.org/modernizing-columbia-river-treaty-b-c-report-on-community-meetings-says-this-time-basin-residents-indigenous-nations-will-be-meaningfully-consulted/
— CBB, Dec. 18, 2019, CONCERNS ABOUT COLUMBIA RIVER TREATY NEGOTIATIONS AIRED AT TRI-CITIES TOWN HALL; UTILITIES WANT REDUCED ‘CANADIAN ENTITLEMENT’ https://www.www.www.columbiabasinbulletin.org/concerns-about-columbia-river-treaty-negotiations-aired-at-tri-cities-town-hall-utilities-want-reduced-canadian-entitlement/
— CBB, July 19, 2019, COLUMBIA RIVER TREATY TOWN HALL HEARS IDAHO VIEWS ON NEGOTIATING, MODERNIZING TREATY, https://www.www.www.columbiabasinbulletin.org/columbia-river-treaty-town-hall-hears-idaho-views-on-negotiating-modernizing-treaty/
— CBB, March 8, 2019, FIFTH ROUND OF NEGOTIATIONS AIMED AT MODERNIZING U.S./CANADA COLUMBIA RIVER TREATY CONCLUDES https://www.www.www.columbiabasinbulletin.org/fifth-round-of-negotiations-aimed-at-modernizing-u-s-canada-columbia-river-treaty-concludes/