Mackenzie River Basin Board

MRBB Meeting 53, May 31 – June 1 2016MRBB 2016-2019 Business Plan

2016– 2019 Business Plan

Tab 13a

MRBB Meeting 53, May 31 – June 1 2016MRBB 2016-2019 Business Plan

Table of Contents

Introduction

Vision

Principles

Background

Board Priorities for 2016-2019

Financial Projections

Long-term Operations

Table 11: MRBB Business Plan Activities

Introduction

The Mackenzie River Basin Board (the Board/MRBB) 2016-2019 Business Plan describes the priorities and plannedactivitiesby MRBB during this period, based on the Board’svision and principles. The Background section contains information on purpose, mandate and responsibilities from the Mackenzie River Basin Transboundary Waters Master Agreement(Master Agreement) that guides the Board’s business. The Board Priorities for 2016-2019 section describes activities the Board proposes to undertake. Business Plan Activities for 2016-2019 are included in Table 2. This table sets out the short-term outcomes thatcumulatively will address the Board’s long term goals. The Long Term Operations section describes the challenges the Board will face and the opportunities that may be presented to the Board

The MRBB 2016-2019 Business Plan is intended to guide the MRBB through a transitionary period as Mackenzie River Basin jurisdictions complete and implement bilateral water management agreements and the Board develops a longer term strategic plan that will be informed by a third party strategic and operational review. The third party review will evaluate the duties of the MRBB, the governance and functional structures of the MRBB, the structure and responsibilities of the MRBB secretariat, and the resources available to the MRBB.

Vision

The Board’s vision for the Mackenzie River Basin is a healthy and diverse aquatic ecosystem for the benefit of present and future generations.

Principles

The Master Agreement commits the parties to the following principles in carrying out their responsibilities in the Basin:

Manage the water resources in a manner consistent with the maintenance of the ecological integrity of the aquatic ecosystem.
Manage the use of the water resources in a sustainable manner for present and future generations.
Allow each party to the Agreement to use or manage the use of water resources within its jurisdiction provided such use does not unreasonably harm the ecological integrity of the aquatic ecosystem in any other jurisdiction.
Provide for early and effective consultation, notification and sharing of information on developments and activities that might affect the ecological integrity of the aquatic ecosystem in another jurisdiction.
Resolve issues in a co-operative and harmonious manner.

Background

The MRBB was created by the Mackenzie River Basin Transboundary Waters Master Agreement, which was completed in 1997 by the Governments of Canada, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Yukon and the Northwest Territories.

The purpose of the Master Agreement is to establish common principles for cooperative management of the aquatic ecosystem of the Mackenzie River Basin; to establish an administrative mechanism to implement these principles; and to make provisions for bilateral water management agreements.

The MRBB has no more than thirteen members. Two members represent each province and territory (Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Yukon, and the Northwest Territories). One of the two provincial and territorial members has been appointed to represent Aboriginal organizations in each respective jurisdiction and to provide an Aboriginal perspective in the work of the MRBB. Up to three members represent the Government of Canada and two federal members are selected from signatory departments (Indigenousand Northern Affairs Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada). Health Canada provides advice and expertise on areas relevant to its departmental mandate.

The Master Agreement also established a staff arm for the MRBB called the Secretariat. The Secretariat is tasked to carry out the programs, basic administrative duties and investigations required by the Board. Currently, the MRBB Secretariat consists of one staff member, the Executive Director.

The Board has a number of duties and responsibilities that are specified in the Master Agreement. Key duties and responsibilities are:

Providing a forum for communication, coordination, information exchange, notification and consultation.
Identifying, recommending and implementing such studies, investigations, programs and activities as are required to carry out the Master Agreement.
Considering the needs and concerns of Aboriginal people through:
the provision of culturally appropriate communication, and
the incorporation of their traditional knowledge and values.
Establishing and directing the activities of the Secretariat.
Recommending uniform objectives or guidelines for the quality and quantity of the water resources.
Encouraging consistent monitoring programs.
Monitoring the process of implementing the Bilateral Water Management Agreements.
Submitting to the Ministers a report on the State of the Aquatic Ecosystem every five years.
Submitting an annual report to the Ministers.

The MRBB has established five committees since its inception in 1999:

The State of the Aquatic Ecosystem Report (SOAER) Steering Committee, which is tasked with overseeing the SOAER.
The Traditional Knowledge and Strengthening Partnerships (TKSP) Steering Committee, which provides Traditional Knowledge oversight, and helps incorporate indigenous perspectives into MRBB operations, including the SOAER.
The Communications Committee, which is tasked with meeting the MRBB Communication needs, including maintaining the MRBB website and producing materials for distribution to the public.
The Technical Committee, which is tasked to support basin-level research priorities proposed via bilateral water management agreements; investigate matters related to science, monitoring and reporting of technical and traditional knowledge proposed via bilateral water management agreements; and resolve transboundary water issues.
The Operations Committee, which had been tasked to prepare and review by-laws, prepare and review the MRBB budget, establish policies and procedures for the Board, and manage the dispute resolution process. The Operations Committee is no longer active.

MRBB Committees may be staffed by Board Members or their Alternates, or civil servants appointed by MRBB Members. The civil servants are typically practitioners or subject matter experts in a field related to the mandate of the Committee. The Committees may at times establish ad hoc working groups to examine specific issues. Secretariat functions, for the Board, the MRBB committees, and MRBB ad hoc working groups are performed by the MRBB Executive Director. Board Members act as Committee Champions and provide leadership and staffing support. Committee Champions appoint committee and working group Chairs. The Chairs are responsible for leading the day to day activities of the MRBB committees and working groups.

Board Priorities for 2016-2019

The business plan activities are detailed below, based on the roles of the Board, which are split into nine broad goals, based on the MRBB 2010-2013 Business Plan. The priorities that will be the focus of the Board over this business planning term include:preparation of aState of the Aquatic Ecosystem Report;improving thecollaborative application of Traditional Knowledge and encouraging greater involvement of Aboriginal people in activities of MRBB;facilitating the development of bilateral water management agreements;conducting a strategic and operational review of the MRBB; and ongoing MRBB operations.

The business plan activities are described in detail in Table 11: BusinessPlan Activities.

1. Evaluatethe ecological health of the whole basin.

Goal 1 describes the actions the MRBB Members will take to complete the State of the Aquatic Ecosystem Report.

Table 1: Evaluate the Ecological Health of the Whole Basin

The timelines depicted in Table 1 reflect the steps and projected timelines developed during a State of the Aquatic Ecosystem Report (SOAER) planning workshop that washeld in 2013-2014. The MRBB may adjust these timelines as the project unfolds.

In 2015-2106, the MRBB appointed a working group to recommend a list of indicators that will provide the basis for the MRBB SOAER. Much of the preliminary work occurred in 2015-2016. The MRBB expects to formally approve the list of indicators in early fiscal year 2016-2017. The MRBB expects that most of the indicators will be described scientifically and through Traditional Knowledge. The SOAER is also expected to describe Traditional Knowledge Indicators that do not have clear parallel expressions in western science. The indicators identified here will be linked with the bilateral water management agreements, and will also form the basis for subsequent SOAE reporting.

The SOAER will be written in the period 2016-2017 to 2017-2018. The SOAER will be a short summary document that relays key messages about the condition of the Mackenzie River Basin. The SOAER will be informed and supported by a series of stand-alone technical documents that describe the state of water quality, water quantity, groundwater, and aquatic ecosystem health knowledge in the Mackenzie River Basin. Traditional Knowledge will inform each technical report and will also be described in a stand-alone document. Board Members will provide subject matter experts to support the completion of the technical reports. The MRBB will also examine opportunities to present key SOAER messages through an on-line digital platform.

The MRBB has delegated the MRBB SOAER Steering Committee to lead the completion of the SOAER. The SOAER Steering committee will coordinate the work and may appoint working groups to advise and/or complete specific elements of the SOAER.

The MRBB TKSP Steering Committee will lead the collection of Traditional Knowledge and work collaboratively to ensure that Traditional Knowledge is incorporated and communicated appropriately in the SOAER.

The MRBB Technical Committee will lead the completion of the SOAER Technical Reports and advise the SOAER Steering Committee on the key messages that will be built into the SOAER document. The Technical Committee will also provide the linkage between the bilateral management committees and MRBB SOAE reporting.

The MRBB Communications Committee will advise the MRBB on how the SOAER can be communicated via a digital platform. The Communications Committee will also advise on how SOAER messaging can be effectively communicated to Ministers, government staff, indigenous organizations and communities, and the general public.

SOAEReporting is an ongoing process to evaluate the ecological health of the Mackenzie River Basin. This reporting provides a synopsis of the basin’s health every five years. The completion of a SOAER is followed by initiating preparations for the next report in 2018-2019.

2. Investigatematters concerning the ecological health of the whole basin.

Goal 2 describes the actions the MRBB Members will take to support the implementation of bilateral water management agreements from a whole basin perspective.

Table 2: Investigate matters concerning the ecological health of the whole basin.

The MRBB will form a Technical Committee to address basin wide issues. The MRBB will oversee the process for establishing uniform objectivesand guidelines for the aquatic integrity and quality and quantity of water resources. These guidelines and objectives will be developed through bilateral and multi-lateral discussions and will dialogue with responsible monitoring agencies to ensure that monitoring programs are in place to support bilateral agreements. These activities will be pursued on an ongoing basis.

The MRBB TKSP Steering Committee will provide advice to the Technical Committee regarding the role of Local and Traditional Knowledge in the development of uniform objectives and guidelines for the aquatic integrity and quality and quantity of water resources.

MRBB actions here are sensitive to the needs of the bilateral management committees, and the MRBB expects the actions under Goal 2 to evolve as bilateral water management agreementsare implemented.

3. Advocate for the maintenance and improvement of the ecological health of the whole basin.

Goal 3 describes the actions the MRBB Members will take to fulfill the Board’s advocacy role.

Table 3: Advocate for the maintenance and improvement of the ecological health of the whole basin.

The MRBBmay occasionally be called on as a source of current information on the overall state of the basin. The Board may be asked to contribute to public awareness of issues, and to actas a vocal and visible advocate for aquatic health of the Mackenzie Basin. Through the completion of the business plan activities, the Board will address aspects of its advocacy/awareness role related to the state of the basin, stresses on the basin and cumulative effects. The Board will continue to make progress on clarifying its advocacy role and raising awareness of the entire Mackenzie River Basin. These activities will be pursued on an as-needed basis.

MRBB Members and the Secretariat may lead advocacy activities on behalf of the MRBB. MRBB Members may on occasion also delegate MRBB Committee Members to speak on the Board’s behalf.

The MRBB SOAER Steering Committee, the MRBB Technical Committee, and the MRBB TKSP Steering Committee may provide information to support the Board’s advocacy role.

The MRBB Communications Committee may develop communications materials in support of the Board’s advocacy role.

The MRBB anticipates that it will fulfill its advocacy role on as as-needed basis.

4.Educatethe public, share information, and learn from others about matters concerning the ecological health of the whole basin.

Goal 4 describes the actions that MRBB Members will take to fulfill its public education mandate.

Table 4: Educate the public, share information, and learn from others about matters concerning the ecological health of the whole basin.

The MRBB will maintain a website to provide up to date information, and as a portal for internal MRBB document sharing on an ongoing basis. The MRBB will review the website structure and scope its digital communications needs in 2016-2017. The MRBB anticipates that any changes to the MRBB website structure will be implemented in early 2017-2018. The MRBB will update its Communications Action Plan in 2016-2017, which will include a strategy to assess and respond to communications needs of Aboriginal MRBB Members.

The MRBB will respond to internal and external requests for information on an as-needed basis, provided that the requested information is not considered as sensitive.

The MRBB will also investigate opportunities for partnerships with academic and non-governmental organizations to advance the state of knowledge within the Mackenzie River Basin.

The MRBB has delegated the MRBB Communications Committee to lead the development of MRBB communications materials, including the website content.

The MRBB TKSP Steering Committee will provide advice to the MRBB on effective communication of MRBB information and activities to an Aboriginal audience.

The MRBB SOAER Steering Committee and the MRBB Technical Committee may provide information to inform the MRBB communications materials.

5. Support and facilitate the increased participation of Aboriginal Peoples in MRBB activities.

Goal 5 describes the actions that MRBB members will take to strengthen the capacity of MRBB Aboriginal members to participate in MRBB activities.

Table 5: Support and facilitate the increased participation of Aboriginal Peoples in MRBB activities.

The MRBB TKSP Steering Committee will lead MRBB activities related to Goal 5 on behalf of the MRBB.

MRBB Aboriginal Members will be the Steering Committee of the Tracking Change Local and Traditional Knowledge in Watershed Governanceresearch project. Aboriginal members will share information and insight gathered under the project for inclusion into MRBB activities, including the SOAER.

The Tracking Change research project is led by researchers from the University of Alberta. The project will run from 2015 to 2021. The research project will support community-based efforts to gather information from across the Mackenzie River Basin. The MRBB expects the project outcomes to help support its ability to report on the state of the aquatic ecosystem from a Traditional and Local Knowledge perspective, which will be reflected in future SOAE reports. The MRBB also expects the project to create knowledge sharing networks across the Mackenzie River Basin. By building research, monitoring, and knowledge sharing capacity at the community level, the MRBB also anticipates that ongoing knowledge generation can be a project legacy that will continue to support the Board’s reporting capacity.

The MRBB will also make efforts to enhance the capacity of MRBB Aboriginal members to participate in MRBB activities. In 2016-2017, the MRBB will develop guidelines that help define how Aboriginal members can represent the MRBB, and the resources that will be required to support this. The TKSP Steering Committee will also advise the Board on the status of Aboriginal governments in the Mackenzie River Basin and how they fit into the broader governance structure. This is anticipated to occur in 2017-2018.

In 2016-2017, the MRBB will also develop protocols for translating communications materials into indigenous languages that are spoken and read in the Mackenzie River Basin.

The MRBB Communications Committee will provide support for the development of communications materials for Aboriginal audiences.

The MRBB SOAER Steering Committee and the MRBB Technical Committee will work with the TKSP Steering Committee to ensure that MRBB Aboriginal Members are engaged in their work and that the outcomes of their work is relevant to Aboriginal Board Members and to a broader Aboriginal audience.

6.Encourage and facilitate the development of bilateral water management agreements.