MINUTES OF THE FORTYTHREEMEETING
May 14, 2013
MackenzieRiver Basin Board
Minutes, Meeting 43
May 14, 2013 Teleconference
Draft – May 16, 2013
Members:
Mike NortonMember/Chair Environment Canada
Mike RenoufAlternate MemberEnvironment Canada
Jon BowenMemberYukon
Brian YeeMemberAlberta
Ray CaseMemberNorthwest Territories
Gary NeilAlternate MemberSaskatchewan
Kathryn BruceMemberAboriginal Affairs and
Northern Development Canada
Mary Frances MacLellanAlternate MemberHealth Canada
-Wright
Guests:
Bob BrownGuestBritish Columbia
Tim TothGuestAlberta
Regrets:
Lynn KriwokenMemberBritish Columbia
Ward ChickoskiMemberHealth Canada
Bob CarlesMemberSaskatchewan
Don DerangerAboriginal MemberSaskatchewan
Vera NicholsonAboriginal MemberBritish Columbia
Sharon PeterAboriginal MemberYukon
Sonny MacDonaldAboriginal MemberNorthwest Territories
Secretariat:
Don PittmanExecutive DirectorMackenzieRiver Basin
Board
43.1 Call to Order
The 43rdMRBB Meeting convened at 10:05 am MDT.
43.2Membership
Mary Frances MacLellan-Wright was attending her first MRBB meeting.
43.3Approval of Agenda
Motion: Moved by Kathryn Bruce.
Seconded by Brian Yee.
THAT the Agenda be approved as provided
CARRIED
43.4Approval of Minutes, #42
Board Members had the following requests which will be implemented by the Secretariat:
- Specify that Bob Carlesis the Saskatchewan Member, not the Alternate Member.
- Specify on Page 3 that the third Action Item listed in Section 42.4 refers to the TK/P Steering Committee.
Motion: Moved by Brian Yee.
Seconded byKathryn Bruce.
THAT the Board approvethe Minutes from MRBB Meeting #42, pending therevisions that were advised.
CARRIED
43.5 Business Arising from the Minutes
Action Item List, MRBB Meeting 42, 41, 38
Meeting 42
ACTION: MRBB to review TK Best Practices Report and if possible, approve electronically.
Status: Completed.
ACTION: Secretariat to distribute short description of TK workshop objectives, location, date, participants, and anticipated cost.
Status: Completed.
ACTION: (If necessary) Board may convene teleconference to provide direction to the TK/P Committee.
Status: Has not yet been necessary.
ACTION: Board to hold a focused TK Learning Session about implementing TK at the next MRBB Meeting.
Status: In Progress, will occur at Meeting 44.
ACTION: Secretariat to implement a running tab of Action Items, similar to the PPWB.
Status: Not completed.
ACTION: Include introductory Governance Discussion on next Meeting Agenda
Status: Pending, will be discussed at Meeting 44.
ACTION: Robert Harrisonto work with Secretariat to complete Report to Ministers.
Status: Completed
ACTION: Secretariat to distribute Report to Ministers to MRBB by December 10, 2012.
Status: Report was distributed behind schedule.
ACTION: Secretariat to develop Annual Report Template for discussion by the MRBB.
Status: Template exists but has not yet been vetted through Communications Committee.
ACTION: Alberta to provide update on Hydrology Model at next Board Meeting.
Status: In Progress but deferred to a later meeting.
ACTION: Board to hold SOAER Scoping Workshop at the next MRBB Meeting.
Status: In Progress will be discussed at Meeting 44.
ACTION: Secretariat to schedule teleconference prior to spring Board Meeting, to deal with administrative issues.
Status: Completed.
ACTION: Secretariat to vet MRBB presentation to Communications Committee.
Status: Completed.
ACTION: Communications Committee to vet MRBB presentation to Board.
Status: Completed.
ACTION: Secretariat to add Don Derangerto Communications Committee distribution list.
Status: Completed.
ACTION: Secretariat to update Financial Report.
Status: Completed.
ACTION: Secretariat to revise AANDC contribution from $15,000 to $40,000.
Status: Completed.
ACTION: Secretariat to develop 5 year workplan with support of MRBB committees prior to the May MRBB meeting.
Status: Two year draft workplan completed. Need direction from the Board and some additional information to develop 5 year workplan.
ACTION: MRBB TK/P Steering Committee to submit workshop proposal to the MRBB for review before the end of December 2012.
Status: Completed.
Meeting 41
ACTION: Secretariat to develop, in consultation with the MRBB Chair and the MRBB Communications Committee, a list of MRBB inquiry topics, the lead responder, and available support from the jurisdictions and agencies.
Status: Not completed.
Meeting 38
ACTION: AANDC Member to invite representative from AANDC Contaminants and Remediation Division to future Board meeting to discuss their work in the Mackenzie Basin.
Status: Secretariat recommends that this is not currently a Board priority. The discussion can occur at the Board’s discretion.
Discussion
The Board noted that the neither the Minutes from Meeting 41 nor the Business Plan Addendum was available on the Members-Only section of the MRBB Website. The Board directed the Secretariat to add these documents to the Website.
Action: Don Pittman to add the Minutes from Meeting 41, 42, and the Business Plan Addendum to the Members-Only section of the MRBB Website.
The Board decided that the Contaminants discussion first raised at Meeting 38 could be removed. Kathryn Bruce and Ray Case will incorporate some discussion of the Contaminants Program when they provide an update to the Board on Devolution in the Northwest Territories at the Fall MRBB Meeting.
Action: Devolution in the Northwest Territoriesto be included on Agenda during the Fall MRBB Meeting.
No Board Members had received any feedback on the MRBB Report to Ministers. Board Members felt that it was important to get back to an annual reporting cycle.
The Board felt that directing the Secretariat to develop a 5 year workplan might not be appropriate, given the upcoming Governance discussion. The Secretariat developed a draft 2 year workplan, but required more information and direction both to improve certainty in the numbers provided and to extend the workplan beyond 2 years.
The completion of the Bilateral Water Management Agreements is the major work item for the jurisdictions over the next few years. A lot of the Board’s work will depend on how the bilateral agreements are implemented. This will inform the Governance discussion.
43.6Financial Report 2012-2013
Don Pittman summarized the Board’s finances for Fiscal Year 2012-2013. The Board’s Budget was $467,385 based on a carry-forward from Fiscal Year 2011-2012 of $187,385. The Board expended $203,951 in 2012-2013, with a carry forward to 2013-2014 of $263,434.
The question was raised of whether the Board would continue to build up funds for workplanning priorities or whether it would aim for a balanced budget. MRBB fixed costs take up a significant amount of the Board’s annual budget. The Board decided to discuss the issue in more detail during Meeting 44. The Secretariat will not ask Environment Canada Finance to distribute invoices for 2013-2014 until after the Board has this discussion.
Motion: Moved by Gary Neil.
Seconded byRay Case.
THAT the Board accept the Financial Report as provided and authorize a carry forward of $263,434.
CARRIED
43.7Workplanning Priorities and Budgeting 2013-2015
For context to the workplanning discussion, the Board heard updates from the Committees.
The SOAER Steering Committee has met regularly since MRBB Meeting 42. The Committee developed a draft Annotated Table of Contents to help guide the discussions. The Committee has examined options to write the SOAER and is recommending that the Board retain a lead writer/coordinator by contract over several years. The lead writer would gather general information on the Basin, design the report and incorporate the results of the Technical Reports.
The Committee is examining options for completing the more technical aspects of the reporting, including whether or not the capacity exists to complete technical aspects in house. If the capacity does not exist, the technical aspects will need to be contracted out as well. If this is the case, the Board will need its carry forward funds to cover those costs.
Given the decisions that still need to be made, the SOAER budget numbers are speculative at this point. The Committee will meet in Whitehorse on June 4, and will provide its recommendations to the Board at Meeting 44.
The Traditional Knowledge and Strengthening Partnerships Steering Committee received a draft engagement document of Traditional Knowledge in the SOAER. In the absence of other options, the Committee has examined whether the retention of a TK Coordinator might provide opportunities for the Committee to move forward with its work.
There is a prospective TK Coordinator candidate who is currently working on a short term contract for the GNWT. The TK Coordinator may be able to Chair the TK/P Committee. The TK Coordinator may also be able to lead the TK compilation and writing for the SOAER. The TK committee may ask the Board for funds to retain the TK Coordinator but no formal proposal has been received yet.
Given the tight linkages between the TK/P and SOAER Committees, the Board felt that TK/P Committee Members should be invited to the afternoon session of the SOAER Committee Meeting on June 4.
Action: Secretariat to invite and if necessary amend travel arrangements for TK/P Committee Members to participate in the SOAER Committee Meeting on June 4.
The Board felt that a two year workplan was appropriate for Board business up to this point, and that a separate 4 year workplan specific to the SOAER should be developed. The Board decided to re-examine the workplan at Meeting 44, given that there would be more certainty regarding the resource requirements of the SOAER and the proposed TK Coordinator.
43.8 Preparations. MRBB Meeting 44, Whitehorse
The SOAER Committee will present the results of the meeting to the Board at Meeting 44. The Board directed the Secretariat to rearrange the Agenda for Meeting 44 so that Board business would be conducted the day after the SOAER Committee and TK/P Committees met. The TK Learning Workshop will be held on June 6.
The Agenda will also include an introductory discussion on Governance. The Bilateral Negotiations update will lead into the governance discussion.
Action: Secretariat to modify Meeting 44 Agenda based on Board direction and complete any logistical adjustments that may be necessary.
The Board directed the SOAER Committee and the Secretariat to develop an agenda for the June 4 Meeting.
Action: Kathryn Bruce, Ray Case, and Don Pittman to develop draft SOAER Committee Agenda and circulate to the SOAER Committee, the TK/P Committee and the Board for review and comment.
Don Pittman reported that he was due to receive a proposal for the TK Learning Workshop later that day. Don would circulate the TK Learning Workshop Agenda to the TK/P Committee and then the Board for comment.
Action: Secretariat to circulate the TK Learning Workshop Agenda to the TK/P Committee and then the Board for comment.
43.9 Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 11:15 am, MDT.
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ANNEX 1: AGENDA
The Board’s Vision: A healthy and diverse aquatic ecosystem
for the benefit of present and future generations.
MackenzieRiver Basin Board Secretariat
PO Box 2310, 5019 52nd StreetYellowknife, NTX1A 2P7
Agenda, MackenzieRiver Basin BoardMeeting No. 43
Teleconference 10:00 am to noon MDT, May 14, 2013
Call: 1 877-413-4781
Passcode: 9444269
43.1 Call to Order – Chair
43.2Introductions (Information)
43.3 Approval of Agenda (Decision)
43.4 Approval of Minutes #42 (Decision)
43.5 Business Arising from the Minutes (Discussion)
43.6 Financial Report 2012-2013 (Information and Decision)
43.7 Workplanning Priorities and Budgeting 2013-2014
(Discussion and Decision)
- Board Activities
- SOAER Steering Committee
- Traditional Knowledge and Strengthening Partnerships Steering Committee
- Communications Committee
- Executive Director
43.8 Preparations, MRBB Meeting 44, Whitehorse, June 4-5, 2013
43.9 Adjourn
ANNEX 2: ACTION ITEMS, MRBB MEETING 43
1. Action: Don Pittman to add the Minutes from Meeting 41, 42, and the Business Plan Addendum to the Members-Only section of the MRBB Website.
2. Action: Devolution in the Northwest Territories to be included on Agenda during the Fall MRBB Meeting.
3. Action: Secretariat to invite and if necessary amend travel arrangements for TK/P Committee Members to participate in the SOAER Committee Meeting on June 4.
4. Action: Secretariat to modify Meeting 44 Agenda based on Board direction and complete any logistical adjustments that may be necessary.
5. Action: Kathryn Bruce, Ray Case, and Don Pittman to develop draft SOAER Committee Agenda and circulate to the SOAER Committee, the TK/P Committee and the Board for review and comment.
6. Action: Secretariat to circulate the TK Learning Workshop Agenda to the TK/P Committee and then the Board for comment.
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