Local governments are amongst those getting prepared for the possibility of renegotiations for the Columbia River Treaty. Nelson Mayor Deb Kozak is chair of the Local Governments Committee. She says they’re applying for advisory status at the federal level.
She feels the different levels of government are on the same page.
She says they will be going around the Basin this spring and fall to update residents with any new information and historical background on the Treaty.
Kozak says the United States has indicated it does not want to continue to pay what is called “The Canadian Entitlement”, a decision the Canadian government is not in support of. The re-introduction of salmon is also something many people are currently working on although salmon are not being discussed as part of the Treaty.