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NRBS - Home Table of Contents		Northern River Basins Study Final Report A Proposal For The Creation Of A Regional River Basin Committee 1.0 Background 2.0 Proposal for a Regional River Basin Committee      2.1 Purpose      2.2 Proposed Terms of Reference      2.3 Proposed Composition of the Interface Committee      2.4 Operation of the Regional River Basin Committee Respectfully Submitted to The Honourable Ty Lund Minister of Environmental Protection Government of Alberta and The Honourable Sergio Marchi Minister of the Environment Government of Canada from The First Nations and Métis Leaders from the Region Encompassed by the Northern River Basins Study February 6, 1996
NRBS - Home Table of Contents Top of Page		1.0 BACKGROUND The Northern River Basins Study (NRBS) was initiated, in large measure, as a result of the concerns expressed by First Nations/Métis leaders in northern Alberta. The findings of this Study are currently being compiled for submission to both the Government of Alberta and the Federal government. It is anticipated that the results of the Northern River Basins Study will identify a number of subject areas requiring the follow-up of all levels of government. Within the area encompassed by the Northern River Basins Study, a wide range of issues and opportunities exist in the area of natural resource management, environmental protection, and community health. In order to address these important matters at a policy level, the creation of an on-going process of discussion is required between the First Nations/Métis peoples involved, other stakeholders, and the Ministers responsible for water management and environmental protection in both the Government of Canada and the Province of Alberta. The First Nations/Métis Leaders from the region encompassed by the Northern River Basins Study have prepared the following proposal as a means of maintaining a long-term, positive and constructive dialogue directly with the Ministers on matters of mutual interest. Although this proposal focuses on the use of Part 1 of The Canada Water Act as the legal framework for the creation of the proposed committee, the First Nations/Métis Leaders are prepared to consider alternative legal mechanisms to establish the committee provided they are acceptable to everyone involved. 2.0 PROPOSAL FOR A REGIONAL RIVER BASIN COMMITTEE 2.1 Purpose To establish a Regional River Basin Committee under Part 1 of The Canada Water Act in order to consult, advise, and implement the programs and projects resulting from the Northern River Basins Study, and to ensure that an ecosystem management approach is used in the management of watersheds within the region. 2.2 Proposed Terms of Reference It is proposed that the Regional River Basin Committee would operate under the following terms of reference:
NRBS - Home Table of Contents Top of Page		2.2.1   The jurisdictional responsibilities of the Province of Alberta and, specifically, the Minister of Environmental Protection shall be respected. 2.2.2   The jurisdictional responsibilities of the Government of Canada and, specifically, the Minister of the Environment shall be respected. 2.2.3   The Constitutional rights of First Nations and Métis peoples, and the Treaty Rights of First Nations shall be respected. 2.2.4   The rights and interests of each First Nations/Métis government and other Aboriginal self-government initiatives shall be respected. 2.2.5   The Regional River Basin Committee shall deal with the following subject areas on a policy and program level: forest management including, but not limited to, timber harvesting practices, timber allocation, reforestation, forest management practices, environmental protection, and future research needs; water management including, but not limited to, the effects of land use practices (forest management, agricultural practices, etc.) on surface and ground water hydrology, the state of the water resource in the region, water allocation and use, future research needs; water quality including, but not limited to, water quality standards, industrial and municipal effects, monitoring, the effects of environmental contaminants on community and individual health, and future research needs; fisheries management including, but not limited to, the overall state of the fisheries resources in the region, fish allocation and use, environmental factors needed to support the fisheries resource today and into the future, the effects of environmental contaminants on fish and fish habitat, the effects of contaminated fish on human health, and fisheries inventory and research needs in support of management decision making requirements; wildlife management including, but not limited to, the overall state of the wildlife resources in the region, wildlife allocation and use, environmental factors and habitat requirements needed to support the wildlife resources today and into the future at desirable population levels, the effects of environmental contaminants on wildlife and wildlife habitat, the effects of contaminated wildlife on human health, and wildlife inventory and research needs in support of management decision making requirements; air quality including, but not limited to, air quality standards, the effects of airborne contaminants on community and individual health, and air quality monitoring and research; economic development based on the natural resources in the region including, but not limited to, tourism and recreation, timber extraction, reclamation, manufacturing of timber resources including added value products, guiding and outfitting (fish and wildlife), eco-tourism, aquaculture, commercial fishing, fish processing and fish marketing, fur harvest and marketing, and game farming and ranching; renewable resource management including, but not limited to, increased training and employment opportunities for local First Nations/Métis people in Provincial, Territorial and Federal resource management program planning and delivery; increased integration of Traditional Ecological Knowledge with conventional science in natural resource policy development, research, management, and program delivery; and the development of a partnership relationship between First Nations/Métis peoples and the governments of Alberta and Canada with respect to natural resource management; more effective design, coordination and integration of government programming; more effective coordination and integration of First Nations/Métis interests and the interests of all communities in addressing matters of mutual interest; any other matter considered by the participants to fall within the general intent of the Regional River Basin Committee's purpose.
NRBS - Home Table of Contents Top of Page		2.3 Proposed Composition of the Interface Committee Government of Alberta - The Minister of Environmental Protection or his/her designate(s) with representation not lower than the level of Assistant Deputy Minister. - the Minister can invite other Provincial staff as and when required. Government of Canada - The Minister of the Environment or his/her designate(s) with representation not lower than the level of Regional Director General. - the Minister can invite other Federal staff as and when required. First Nations/Métis Representatives - Each of the First Nations and Métis Leaders from the region encompassed by the Northern River Basins Study. Other Stakeholders - It is suggested that, among others, the Committee include representatives of other Provincial or Territorial governments, industry and municipal governments 2.4 Operation of the Regional River Basin Committee
NRBS - Home Table of Contents Top of Page		2.4.1 Funding Funding in support of the Committee would be provided equally by the Government of Canada, the Government of Alberta, and industry. Funding from other participating governments may be requested as and when required. 2.4.2 Meeting Schedule The Committee would meet a minimum of every two months with the option of meeting more frequently, if necessary, at the call of the Chairpersons. 2.4.3 Chairpersons The Committee would be co-chaired by the Federal Minister, the Provincial Minister and by an Aboriginal leader nominated by the First Nations/Métis representatives on the Committee. 2.4.4 Administrative Support to the Committee The Committee would be supported through an independent consultant that would provide the following services: - agenda preparation - liaison with participants as required in order to ensure the Committee functioned effectively and the interests of each participant were considered
NRBS - Home Table of Contents Top of Page		- follow-up on Committee decisions to ensure appropriate action was being taken - facilitate the process of decision making of the Committee - assist Committee members in the development of agenda items or with the implementation of Committee decisions - facilitate the resolution of issues among or between Committee members - provide a secretariat and research role on behalf of the Committee - duties assigned by the Committee as required 2.4.5 Committee Decision Making The Committee would attempt to achieve consensus on all matters while recognizing and respecting the legal responsibilities of each Committee member.

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