Government officials from both Canada and the United States are stressing the need to finalize the updated Columbia River Treaty governing water flowing between the two countries before a change of administration in the United States.
Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly told reporters in Lima, Peru, on Friday that much could be accomplished to get the treaty passed by Congress before President-elect Donald Trump takes office on January 20. .
Jolie, who is attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum in Peru, said she spoke with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday and discussed the importance of a clear agreement between the two countries on water management on the West Coast. Ta.
He said he believed the treaty could receive bipartisan support after signing an agreement in principle with the Biden administration in June, calling the treaty an “important goal.” Ta.
“We think it’s a win-win situation for both sides of the border. British Columbia is working together, First Nations are working together, and the United States has support from key senators. I know that,” she said.
Blinken’s office said in a statement that his meeting with Jolie “reaffirmed the need for the United States and Canada to complete a modernized Columbia River Treaty.”
“Generally speaking, if Democrats want something to pass and they can get 50 votes right now, they should act quickly,” said Matthew Lebo, an expert on U.S. politics at Western University in London, Ont. ” he said.
It was not immediately clear where President Trump stands on the treaty, but once he enters the White House, even with bipartisan support, the new Republican majority leader, Mr. He has the ability to abolish treaties by directing them not to come to the Senate floor. Said.
At a press conference in September, President Trump said Canada had “essentially a very large spigot” that was sending water to the Pacific Ocean, but to help with natural disasters, he would flip it and “directly send water to Los Angeles.” He claimed that it was possible to pump water into the area. .
Experts told The Canadian Press at the time that while systems existed to move water back and forth between the U.S. and Canada, there were no water systems with “big taps” to transport water directly from Canada. There was also no infrastructure. To California.
The Columbia River flows through British Columbia and flows into Washington and Oregon.
In June, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and President Joe Biden announced an agreement in principle that modernizes the 63-year-old treaty, which Trudeau said will allow for continued flood risk management and cooperation on river hydropower. He said it would be.
At the same time, Biden said the deal “rebalances the energy equation” between the two countries, allowing the U.S. to maintain more hydropower generation while giving Canada the opportunity to both import electricity and export it to the U.S. market. said that it would be given.
The original treaty was signed in 1961 after a 1948 flood destroyed riverside communities and killed dozens of people.
First Nations in British Columbia’s Columbia River Basin have long sought treaty changes to help salmon recover after being cut off by U.S. dams.
— With files from Dylan Robertson in Lima
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 15, 2024.
