Government wants public input to help shape future of Columbia River Treaty
By Nelson Daily Staff
Bill Bennett, Minister of Energy and Mines and Minister Responsible for Core Review, announced another round of consultations with residents of the Columbia River Basin following the release of the “Public Consultation Report Working Draft.”
The report provides a comprehensive summary of the input received from the public and key findings as the Columbia River Treaty Review Team prepares its recommendations to Cabinet.
“Basin residents are having their say on the Columbia River Treaty by providing input at community meetings, through the website and by mail,” Bennett, Minister of Energy and Mines and Responsible for Core Review, said.
“We’re listening and we want more of this essential feedback to ensure the input we receive helps shape the future of the treaty.”
Further public input is being sought to ensure regional interests help shape the future of the Columbia River Treaty.
The views expressed in the draft report were collected during three rounds of information sessions and workshops throughout the region, including Jaffray, Creston, Nakusp, Castlegar, Trail, Fauquier, Valemount, Golden and Revelstoke from May 2012 to June 2013.
Comments and feedback were also collected online through the Columbia River Treaty Review website. The Province is seeking further public feedback and will hold additional community meetings in early November.
The provincial Columbia River Treaty Review is conducting economic, environmental, social, financial, legal and hydrological analyses in order to make a decision on whether to continue, amend or terminate the Columbia River Treaty with the United States.
