Minutes, Mackenzie River Basin Board Meeting No. 55
November 30 and December 1, 2016
Room1a Oxbridge Place, Edmonton, Alberta
Board Members and Alternates:
Cheryl BaranieckiChairEnvironment and Climate Change Canada
Mike RenoufAlternate MemberEnvironment and Climate Change Canada
Brian YeeMemberAlberta
Cleo ReeceAboriginal MemberAlberta
Carmen de la Cheviotère1AlternateMemberAlberta
Heather JirousekMemberYukon
Joseph TsannieAboriginal MemberSaskatchewan
Lynn KriwokenMemberBritish Columbia
Vera NicholsonAboriginal MemberBritish Columbia
Leon AndrewAboriginal MemberNorthwest Territories
Robert JenkinsAlternate MemberNorthwest Territories
Jennifer O’NeillAlternate MemberIndigenous and Northern Affairs Canada
Guests:
Jennifer Fresque-BaxterChair, TKSP SCNorthwest Territories
Lynne Quinnett-Abbott[1]Chair, SOAER SCEnvironment and Climate Change Canada
Sharon PeterTSKP/SOAERYukon
Evan Friesenhan[2]PresenterAlberta Environment and Parks
Bruce Maclean2PresenterMaclean Environmental Consulting
Carolyn Dubois2PresenterThe Gordon Foundation
Secretariat:
Don PittmanExecutive DirectorMRBB
Regrets:
Erin KellyMemberNorthwest Territories
Mohan DenettoMemberIndigenous and Northern Affairs Canada
John FahlmanMemberSaskatchewan
Teressa LaforestMemberHealth Canada
55.1 Call to Order (Chair)
The 53rdMRBB Meeting convened at9:05 am MDT.
55.2Approval of Agenda(Chair)
The order of the guest presentations was amended to accommodate a scheduling conflict. The meeting agenda was approved as amended.
55.3 Membership (Executive Director)
Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada confirmed their commitment to the MRBB as per the recent email sent to the Board members. Carmen de la Cheviotère replaced Tim Toth as the Alberta Alternate Member. Sharon Peter’s term expired in August 2016 and Sharon participated as a member of the SOAER and TKSP Steering Committees.
55.4 Approval of Minutes, MRBB Meetings 53 and 54 (Chair)
Board Members revised Section 53.7 and Annex 3d and approved the minutes of MRBB Meeting 53as amended.Board Members approved the minutes of MRBB Meeting 54 as circulated.
55.5 Action Items not addressed elsewhere on the Agenda(Executive Director)
The status of action item 54.7-1 (Joseph Tsannie to provide draft agenda for proposed trip to Gunners Mine Site, which Don Pittman will distribute to the MRBB) was changed to Complete. The Board agreed to speak to Action Items 53.7-2 (MRBB Members to provide list of water quality monitoring sites where data is behind schedule) and 53.8-1 (Board Members to identify potential members of the MRBB Technical Committee for the next MRBB face to face meeting) at the next MRBB meeting.
55.6 Ministers Meeting (Robert Jenkins)
Board Members agreed to continue working towards the Ministers Meeting, which will focus on the bilateral water management agreements and the strategic review. The briefing materials need to be updated. The Northwest Territories will continue to lead the planning process.
55.7SOAER Update (Lynne Quinnett-Abbott and Jennifer Fresque-Baxter)
The SOAER and TKSP Steering Committees have worked collaboratively to ensure that traditional knowledge and western science are side by side from the start of the SOAER project, as per the two eyed seeing approach, which embraces the strength of traditional knowledge and of wester science by learning from both.
The MRBB approved the SOAER Steering Committee Terms of Reference. The MRBB approved the SOAER Project Charter, and recognized that the Charter will evolve through the life of the project. The MRBB reconfirmed their support for the joint SOAER-TKSP Steering Committee workshop scheduled for 2017. The MRBB also approved participation by an Elder from each jurisdiction. The Steering Committees will retain the services of a facilitation team experienced in bringing western science and traditional knowledge perspectives together.
The MRBB will develop the SOAER through a stepped approach. The Steering Committees will work with the SOAER contractor to identify indicators for which scientific and traditional knowledge information is currently available. The SOAER will initially present information on three to five indicators that are considered to be the easiest to obtain and analyse, and then add information annually. The data in the first round will be place based.
The SOAER Request for Proposals will need to direct the prospective contractors to describe their assumptions and perspectives on what information is available and in what state the information is in. The SOAER team will need to include personnel who have experience working with indigenous knowledge. The MRBB advised that the request for proposals to complete the SOAER include a clause that caps the total cost of the project. They asked that a year by year breakdown of the project cost be included in the SOAER Project Charter.
55.8 Update from the Traditional Knowledge and Strengthening Partnerships Steering Committee (Jennifer Fresque-Baxter)
The Traditional Knowledge and Strengthening Partnerships Steering Committee met on November 29, 2016. The Tracking Change website includes information on the outcomes of the projects funded during the summer of 2016. A second call for proposals is anticipated issued for 2017, dependent on the outcomes of the 2016 projects. Funding decisions would then be expected in May. The Tracking Change project will provide information for the current iteration of the SOAER. The Tracking Change link is:
The Government of the Northwest Territories funded state of traditional knowledge reports for each Mackenzie sub basin. The reports will document the traditional knowledge information that is currently available and will help identify information gaps.
MRBB Aboriginal Members will participate in the Tracking Change Global Knowledge Symposium in February 2017. Participants will attend a two day workshop in Thailand and then visit a fishing village. The 2016-2017 MRBB Report to Ministers will recap the experience.
The Tracking Change Project team is exploring options to host another Youth Knowledge Fair in 2017. This work could also be considered for the Great Waters Challenge, which is aimed at youth under 30. The Great Waters Challenge will collect stories about water and communities as part of the Canada 150 celebrations. The Great Waters Challenge link is:
55.9 UNESCO Reactive Monitoring in Wood Buffalo National Park (Cheryl Baraniecki)
Two World Heritage Committee (WHC) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Delegates are preparing a third party report in response to a Mikisew Cree First Nation petition that raised concerns about valued ecosystem components in the Peace Athabasca Delta. Through a reactive monitoring mission held at the end of September and early October in the region, the delegates heard a wide range of information related to Treaty rights and access, water levels, climate change, hydrometric parameters, wildlife, the bilateral water management agreements, and federal and provincial/territorial responsibilities.
Once provided to Canada by WHC, there will be an opportunity for a fact check of the draft report by participating governments and Indigenous group to ensure that the report reflects the information that was presented during the mission. Afterwards, WHC will publish the final report on the WHC website. The Parks Canada Agency is also preparing a state of conservation report to be submitted in March, and is conducting a strategic environmental assessment as per the WHC/UNESCO request. The WHCplans to meet in July 2017 and will consider the reports.
55.10Communications Update(Don Pittman)
The MRBB reviewed the look and feel of the MRBB 2015-2016 Report to Ministers. The report will be published after a few minor edits. One copy will be sent to Ministers and five copies will be sent to each Board Member. An electronic version will be posted on the MRBB website three weeks after the report is sent to Ministers.
The Board reviewed the revised Communications Committee Terms of Reference and decided to keep the Terms of Reference as an operational document until there is clarity on the SOAER and the MRBB Business Plan, which will in turn inform the MRBB Communications Action Plan.
55.11 Member Reports (Round Table)
Alberta, British Columbia, Northwest Territories, Yukon, and Environment and Climate Change Canada provided written Agency Reports. The Agency Reports included updates on bilateral water management negotiations and agreements. The BC and Yukon Reports are ready to post on the MRBB website. Environment and Climate Change Canada has also produced a summary of a recently completed national flood synopsis report (prepared by the Intact Centre for Climate Adaptation) which will be distributed after the meeting.
Environment and Climate Change Canada, Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada, and Health Canada will discuss the viability of an integrated federal agency report. They may also try and include the Parks Canada Agency and other federal departments that hold a water mandate.
Cleo Reece reported that Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta are concerned about the lack of available information on the impacts of the Obed Tailings Pond spill of 2013.The NWT did additional monitoring on the Slave River after the spill but did not detect any effects. A new research paper was released which describes the detection of a signal from the spill. The NWT conducted additional work which reaffirmed that no effects were detected.
Cleo Reece expressed concerns about increased mercury levels in fish and drinking water that could result from the flooding of the Site C reservoir. Lynn Kriwoken can facilitate Board Member access to formal channels by which to request and receive information on the Site C project.
Environment and Climate Change Canada can provide information on the status of the Navigable Water Act review.
55.12Update from the Executive Director (Don Pittman)
The Board discussed time management and delegation options which are intended to foster resilience within the MRBB.
55.13In CameraSession
53.14Alberta River Flow Data Portal (Evan Friesenham, Alberta Environment and Parks)
(Contact: )
Evan Friesenham demonstrated the Alberta River Flow Data Portal( Board Members. The portal was developed in response to community requests for better access to information. Municipalities are able to access and, when necessary, change information based on local conditions. The portal could be expandedto include the entire Mackenzie River Basin, if the provinces and territories are interested.
55.15River Navigation Hazards in Alberta (Bruce Maclean, Maclean Environmental Consulting)(Contact: )
Bruce Maclean demonstrated the River Navigation Hazard app developed by the Mikisew Cree First Nation. Staff travel in the Peace Athabasca Delta twice per week to speak to Elders and River Users to identify points where access is restricted if there is not enough water. River users can access the app themselves to enter information about hazards they observe while travelling. The Government of Alberta is engaged at the working level, and hope to use knowledge derived from the app to support policy and decision making.
55.16Mackenzie DataStream Project (Carolyn Dubois, The Gordon Foundation)(Contact: )
Carolyn Dubois demonstrated the Mackenzie DataStream Project Website ( Board Members. Mackenzie DataStream is an open source website that allows users to access georeferenced water quality data that has undergone quality assurance / quality control protocols. Any user, including communities, non-governmental organizations, and governments can become partners with the site. Mackenzie DataStream is not intended to replace government data sites but is instead a communications tool for information that partners want to have shared. Mackenzie DataStream may become an appropriate vehicle for the MRBB to report on topics like the results of the SOAER, since the tools already exist. However, the website may not necessarily be an appropriate venue to share traditional knowledge information.
55.17Financial Report 2015-2016 (Don Pittman)
Expenditures in 2016-2017 are related to daily MRBB operations. The majority of funds have been set aside to support the SOAER and the Strategic and Operational Review.Board Members suggested that Table 10 of the MRBB Business Plan could be expanded to include major expenditures.
55.18 MRBB Business Plan 2016-2019 (Don Pittman)
Board Members reviewed and suggested amendments to the MRBB 2016-2019 Spreadsheet and Business Plan documents. Don Pittman will update the documents.
55.19Parking Lot(Cheryl Baraniecki)
There were no Parking Lot items.
55.20 Next Meeting (Cheryl Baraniecki and Robert Jenkins)
The next MRBB meeting will be held in the Northwest Territories during the week of May 29, 2017. The exact location will be confirmed.
Adjourn
The meeting was adjourned at 3:45 p.m. on December 1, 2016.
Annex 1:Decisions and Action Items, MRBB Meeting 55
Decisions:
Decision 55.2-1 MRBB approved Agenda, MRBB Meeting 55 as amended.
Decision 55.4-1 MRBB approved Minutes, MRBB Meeting 53 as amended by MRBB Members.
Decision 55.4-2 MRBB approved Minutes, MRBB Meeting 52as provided.
Decision 55.5-1MRBB members will provide priority list of water quality monitoring sites related to the bilateral water management agreements prior to next meeting.
Decision 55.5-2 MRBB to identify Members of the Technical Committee prior to next meeting.
Decision 55.7-1 The MRBB approved the SOAER Project Charter as a living document.
Decision 55.7-2 The MRBB approved the SOAER Steering Committee Terms of Reference.
Decision 55.7-3 The MRBB approved inviting an Elder from each jurisdiction to participate in the SOAER workshop.
Action Items:
55.4-1 Members to provide priority list of water quality monitoring sites related to the bilateral water management agreements (Formerly Action Item 53.7-2).
55.4-2 Technical Committee Terms of Reference Working Group to revise Technical Committee Terms of Reference prior to next MRBB Teleconference.
55.4-3 MRBB to complete and approve Technical Committee Terms of Reference during next MRBB Teleconference.
55.4-4 Board Members to identify potential members of the MRBB Technical Committee prior to the next MRBB face to face meeting (Formerly Action Item 53.8-1).
55.6-1 Robert Jenkins to circulate an updated version of the draft Ministers Meeting Annotated Agenda to the MRBB when available.
55.6-2 Robert Jenkins to circulate an updated version of the draft Letter to Ministers to the MRBB when available.
55.6-3 MRBB Members to provide comments on the letter by e-mail and then convene a call.
55.7-1 Cleo Reece to send names of facilitators who have worked with the Alberta Treaty 8 First Nation.
55.7-2 Mike Renouf to provide wording for the SOAER Request for Proposals regarding contractor assumptions about the availability and quality of available data.
55.7-3 SOAER Steering Committee to add year by year breakdown of the project cost into the SOAER Project Charter.
55.8-1 MRBB participation in Tracking Change Global Knowledge Symposium to be highlighted in the 2016-2017 MRBB Report to Ministers.
55.11-1 Don Pittman to circulate summary of the National Flood Synopsis Report to MRBB Members.
55.11-2 Cheryl Baraniecki, Mohan Denetto, and Teressa Laforest to discuss writing an integrated federal agency report.
55.11-3 Cheryl Baraniecki to provide an update on Environment and Climate Change Canada activities on the Obed tailings spill to Cleo Reece.
55.11-4 Robert Jenkins to provide Northwest Territories information on the Obed tailings spill to Cleo Reece.
55.11-5 Cheryl Baraniecki to distribute information piece on the EA Review, Fisheries Act and Navigable Waters Act to Cleo Reece.
55.15-1 Jennifer Fresque-Baxter to circulate the Realizing the Potential of Community Based Monitoring report to Board Members.
55.17-1 Don Pittman to revise Table 10 of the MRBB 2016-2019 Business Plan to include major expenditures by the Board.
55.18-1 Don Pittman to revise MRBB 2016-2019 Business Plan based on MRBB feedback.
55.20-1 Don Pittman to send meeting invitation to Board Members for the week of May 29, 2017.
Minutes of MRBB Meeting No. 55, November 30 - December 1, 2016 Page 1 of 8
[1] Attended on November 30, 2016.
[2] Attended on December 1, 2016.