Listen Live

Columbia River Treaty community discussions highlighted in 2019 report

The B.C. Government has compiled a new report to reflect all of the input received from Columbia Basin communities during their round of 2019 meetings on the Columbia River Treaty.

Between October and November 2019, public meetings were held in 12 communities including Cranbrook, Invermere, Jaffray, Creston, Golden, Nelson, Revelstoke, Valemount, Nakusp, Meadow Creek, and Fauquier.

Following the in-person engagement with communities, the Province has released the 2019 Columbia River Treaty Community Meetings Summary Report.

MORE: 2019 Columbia River Treaty Community Meetings Summary Report (B.C. Government)

The B.C. Government said the public meetings served two purposes. First, to update communities about the current status of the Columbia River Treaty negotiations and the current projects underway to address community interests. Second, the meetings were held to give residents a chance to meet Canada’s negotiating team, including the First Nations who were part of negotiations in 2019.

Nelson’s full community meeting is available to watch, as well as several resources.

“The document captures the presentations, feedback and discussions that took place in each community,” said the B.C. Government. “In addition to presentations by the negotiating team, each meeting had representatives from the Ktunaxa, Secwepemc and Syilx/Okanagan Nations provide details about work they are leading to address Columbia Basin ecosystem health and explore reintroducing salmon to the Upper Columbia River.”

Meanwhile, members from the Columbia River Treaty Local Governments’ Committee shared updated recommendations for a modernized treaty, which they will be submitting to both B.C. and Canada’s governments.

The in-person public meetings were concluded with B.C.’s Columbia River Treaty Team outlining several community projects that were in development. Those projects were to address treaty-related issues raised by Columbia Basin residents over the years since the first Columbia River Treaty was signed by Canada and the United States. The Columbia River Treaty Heritage Project was included in those discussions. The B.C. Government said the project is a proposed touring route that aims to acknowledge what was lost in the B.C. Columbia Basin due to the treaty dams that were constructed and operated.

Bradley Jones
Bradley Jones
Delivering local news and sports in the East Kootenay since April 2016, Bradley now calls Cranbrook home. Born and raised in Airdrie, AB, Bradley graduated from Lethbridge College, and has been a journalist, news anchor and reporter since 2014. Bradley took on local News Director responsibilities when he moved to Cranbrook in 2016. He is now Vista Radio's Kootenay News Director, managing and overseeing all news operations at the company's five regional radio stations in Cranbrook, Creston, Nelson, Castlegar, and Grand Forks.

Continue Reading

- Advertisement -

Related Articles

- Advertisement -

Latest News

Report makes six recommendations on event safety after Lapu Lapu festival tragedy

A report commissioned by the B.C. government after a deadly attack at the Lapu Lapu festival in Vancouver makes a number of recommendations to improve security at public events.

B.C. SPCA welcomes proposed ban on exotic cats

The B.C. SPCA is welcoming proposed regulations from the B.C. government to ban all exotic cat species. 

RCMP seeking two men after explosion outside MLA Bowinn Ma’s North Van office

RCMP have released images of two men they believe were involved in an explosion last month in North Vancouver, which damaged the front door of the building housing the constituency office of B.C. NDP MLA and cabinet minister Bowinn Ma.

Adam Bremner-Akins joins B.C. Greens leadership slate

The B.C. Greens have announced Adam Bremner-Akins from Port Coquitlam as the third and final candidate in the party’s leadership race.

Drought and strong winds challenging firefighters in B.C.’s northeast

The B.C. Wildfire Service has warned today's strong winds expected across much of the province could lead to more extreme wildfire activity.
- Advertisement -