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Castlegar/Golden conferences to focus on CRT
The province is hosting two free conferences that will explore the future of the Columbia River Treaty (CRT) and secure input on alternative future scenarios and how Columbia Basin interests might be affected.
The CRT Local Governments’ Committee is encouraging Basin residents to attend one of these consultation conferences in Golden on March 20 or Castlegar on March 22.
These are the last consultations planned by the province as it fulfills its commitment to consult with residents of the Columbia Basin to ensure their concerns are heard as part of the provincial review of the CRT. The CRT is an international agreement signed in 1964 by Canada and the United States to coordinate flood control and optimize hydroelectric power generation on both sides of the border.
“The province has completed a number of important studies, including analyses of the potential impacts of CRT scenarios on Basin interests. It is important that Basin residents attend these consultation conferences to express their views on the Treaty options and on local issues related to the CRT,” said Deb Kozak, CRT Local Governments’ Committee Chair and City of Nelson Councillor.
Decisions about the future of the CRT could influence how Canada operates local dams and reservoirs for power, flood control and other values, including the environment. Those changes could impact, among other things, water levels, annual payments from the U.S. to BC, and the amount of hydroelectricity generated in the Columbia Basin.
The Castlegar conference is Friday, March 22 at the Sandman Inn from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. (It will be live streamed.) To view the agenda, see the latest studies and register for these free conferences or the live streamed option, visit www.gov.bc.ca/columbiarivertreaty or call (250) 952-0777. The registration links are on the right side of the webpage.
As an alternative, join the Provincial CRT Review Team from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. at the dates and locations below for an overview of the Treaty options. Registration is not required for these information sessions.
Golden – Wednesday, March 20at the Golden Civic Centre and Nelson on Thursday, March 21 at the Prestige Lakeside Resort.
The CRT Local Governments’ Committee includes representatives of regional districts from across the Canadian Columbia Basin as well as the Village of Valemount and the Association of Kootenay Boundary Local Governments. With the support of Columbia Basin Trust (CBT), the Committee is working to help Basin residents and local governments engage in decisions about the future of the CRT.
Learn more and stay informed
* Subscribe to the Provincial CRT Review e-letter at www.newsroom.gov.bc.ca/enews-subscribe.html.
* Join the discussion on Twitter #crtreaty and Facebook at www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Columbia-River-Treaty-Review/471508369560835?fref=ts.
* Take a tutorial on your own schedule at www.cbt.org/crt/tutorial.
* Learn more at www.cbt.org/crt.
1. This short video presents key facts on CRT history: www.cbt.org/crthistoryvideo.
2. This brochure provides an overview of the CRT: www.cbt.org/crtbrochure.
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