MRBB Technical CommitteeTerms of Reference
DRAFT May 15, 2015

1.0Mandate

At the request of, and under the direction of the MRBB, the Technical Committee (TC) shall investigate, oversee, review, report and recommend on matters pertaining to:the state of the aquatic ecosystem reporting;basin-level research priorities proposed via bilateral water management agreements; matters related to science, monitoring and reporting of technical and traditional knowledge proposed via bilateral water management agreements; and the resolution of transboundary water issues. In undertaking its actions, the Technical Committee will give full consideration to traditional, local and scientific knowledge.

To achieve its mandated functions that support the Board and its committees, the Technical Committee will develop an annual draft work plan that defines priority tasks and an associated budget. A final Work Plan will be approved by the Board and may be modified by the Board from time to time as appropriate to achieve Board priorities.

The Technical Committee will carry out its functions as defined in the Work Plan through the use of ongoing and ad hoc working groups established to address specific work plan tasks. Membership on the Work Groups will consist of experts from the jurisdictions, consultants, stakeholders or any others that the Technical Committee deems to possess the appropriate expertise.

The Technical Committee will provide routine progress reports to the Board regarding implementation of the Work Plan. These may include recommendations on areas that may require further technical attention in order for the Board to achieve its goals.

The committee’s activities may include such functions as:

  • advising on science, monitoring and reporting priorities, and emerging issues, consistent with the Mackenzie River Basin Master Agreement’s goals;
  • addressing technical issues that are common across the BWMAs;
  • Developing a basin-level science strategy;
  • Providing advice and expert review on methodologies (e.g., classification of water bodies, objective development, sampling protocols, ecosystem health indicators, interpretation of trends, etc.) andmonitoring programs ;
  • Reviewing existing data and data collection programs (including traditional knowledge) to support reporting requirements of the bilateral agreements and the State of the Aquatic Ecosystem Report (SOAER).
  • Identifying requirements to collect outstanding information.Facilitating the collection, evaluation and reporting of technical information and traditional knowledge, including a monitoring and reporting mechanism, required for the preparation of the SOAER;and
  • Providing advice on the technical aspects of BMC work plans for the implementation of BWMAs.

2.0Membership

The TC will be comprised of the MRBB Champion, Executive Director of the MRBB, a member representing each province and territory on the MRBB, at least one member representing Canada on the MRBB, and a member representing the Traditional Knowledge and Strengthening Partnerships Steering Committee (TK&P).

The TC members will be appointed, as the case may be, by the MRBB member for that jurisdiction, or the Chair of the TK&P.

Committee members, in consultation with the person who appointed them, will identify an alternate who will assume the full responsibilities and authorities of the committee member in her/his absence.

The MRBB will appoint a Board Champion for the Technical Committee and select one of the appointed Technical Committee Members as Chair.

3.0Responsibilities

The Technical Committee will receive direction from the Board, either directly or through the Executive Director as per Board meeting minutes, or through the Champion or Chair.

The responsibilities of the MRBB TC Champion include:

  • Attending and participating in meetings;
  • Representing the expectations and needs of the MRBB to the TC; and
  • Reporting to the MRBB on the actions of the TC.

The responsibilities of the TC Chair include:

  • Attending and participating in meetings;
  • Calling meetings and drafting agendas;
  • Facilitating the discussions of the TC so as to support full participation of all members, achieve the tasks assigned to the TC and to make decisions in a respectful manner; and
  • The responsibilities of a TC member.

The responsibilities of the Technical Committee Members include:

  • Attending and participating in meetings;
  • Note: Committee members will notify the Chair and Secretary immediately if they are unable to attend a meeting.
  • Reviewing relevant information and being prepared to fully participate in meetings;
  • Addressing and completing actions that they have agreed to in a timely manner;
  • Making every effort to represent and speak for their agency by keeping their MRBB and BMC member and/or senior management informed on progress and seeking direction as required to support upcoming decisions and recommendations;
  • Seeking areas of agreement and upholding agreements that are reached; and
  • Ensuring that their alternate member is fully informed and prepared to represent them as and when required.

4.0Code of Conduct and Procedures

Committee members will endeavor to:

  • Support a fair, transparent and collaborative process;
  • Treat others with respect;
  • Candidly identify and share the interests of their agency and jurisdiction while maintaining an open mind to other’s interests and the opportunity for compromise;
  • Listen carefully to each other, ask questions to understand and make statements to explain or educate;
  • Challenge ideas, not people;
  • Share relevant information regarding the issues under consideration;
  • Let opposing views co-exist but focus on collective goals;
  • Speak in terms of interests rather than positions; and
  • Be concise, and stay on topic.

Quorum shall be achieved if four or more TC members or their alternates are present.

Decisions shall be made by consensus. Consensus will be measured by asking committee members their position about a particular motion, recommendation, proposal or action according to the following method.

Level of Support / Signified by / Meaning
1 / Thumbs Up / I agree and will support this recommendation, proposal or action.
2 / Thumbs Sideways / I’m neutral or may not prefer this recommendation, proposal or action but I will support it, either because it’s not important enough to block, or because it seems to be the best conclusion fairly and deliberately.
3 / Thumbs Down / I cannot support this recommendation, proposal or action, but here is my suggestion on how the group might move past or address this disagreement or impasse.

A motion, recommendation, proposal or action is approved if all committee members respond with either 1 or 2.

When committee members disagree with a motion, recommendation, proposal or action or choose to support level 3, they should articulate their concern to the larger group and provide a constructive alternative(s) that seeks to accommodate the interests of all participants.

Should the TC be unable to reach consensus, it will seek guidance and direction from the MRBB.

5.0Meetings and Committee Records

The Technical Committee will meetat least annually. Meetings may be held in-person or by virtual means.

The Executive Director will be responsible for meeting records and distributionof support materials.

Guests may be invited to attend meetings asneeded, including other members of the Bilateral Technical Committees, other federal officials, independent experts, academics, Aboriginal people or other guests.

6.0Budget and Resourcing

The costs incurred by the MRBB TC Champion and TC members and their alternates representing a jurisdiction shall be paid by the appropriate government. Should the TC member representing the TK&P be an Aboriginal member of the MRBB, his/her costs shall be paid in accordance with the terms of the Mackenzie River Basin Transboundary Waters Master Agreement.

Funds required to support the activities of the TC (e.g., contracted services) will be provided by the MRBB via its established budgeting practices.

  • Parties to the bilateral agreements, and where appropriate the federal government, will fund the monitoring required by these agreements and for the SOAER reporting;
  • The Work Groups, including the Technical Committee, will receive their funding from either the MRBB or the jurisdictions. The source will be determined for each task. Staff, equipment and/or other resources required by the Work Groups are provided by the jurisdictions;
  • Partnerships with other organizations, industry and the federal government will be investigated.

7.0Periodic Review of the Terms of Reference and addendum

These Terms of Reference will be reviewed on a regular basisby the MRBB or the Technical Committee and to determine if amendments are needed. All amendments will be approved by the MRBB.

April 15, 2015, edited by M Renouf (May 15th additions (pulled from the 2006 TC TOR) by NWT)