Mackenzie River Basin Board > Bilateral Water Management Agreements

Bilateral Water Management Agreements

Agreements

Four Bilateral Water Management Agreements have been completed: 

Other agreements between neighbouring provinces and territories are currently being negotiated.

Objectives

The bilateral agreements will commit jurisdictions to work cooperatively to achieve the following objectives:

  • Effect cooperative watershed management among the jurisdictions which share the water resources of the Mackenzie River Basin,
  • Sustain the ecological integrity of the aquatic ecosystems of the Mackenzie River Basin, and
  • Facilitate equitable and sustainable use of shared water resources by establishing criteria and desired outcomes that address water consumption, flows, quality, ground water management and aquatic ecosystem health commitments.

Latest BWMA Reports

Bilateral Water Management Agreements

Yukon – Northwest Territories

Alberta – Northwest Territories

British Columbia – Northwest Territories

British Columbia – Yukon

MRBB Involvement

The Mackenzie River Basin Transboundary Waters Master Agreement provides broad guidance for negotiating individual bilateral agreements. Provincial and territorial jurisdictions are responsible for the development of bilateral agreements.

Each MRBB jurisdiction will engage its Indigenous organizations in the development of the bilateral agreements in a manner consistent with its legal obligations.  The MRBB recognises the importance of Indigenous participation and traditional knowledge in transboundary water management.

The MRBB has the responsibility to ensure consistency and coherence among the agreements and to ensure that collectively, the agreements will result in fulfillment of the terms and principles of the Master Agreement.

The Board also has responsibility to track the development of the agreements and, if in its opinion believes that progress is unduly delayed, the Board may bring this observation to the attention of all jurisdictions and hold a discussion to resolve the delay.  If progress continues to be delayed, the Board may bring this matter to the attention of the Ministers.

The federal government will become involved in the negotiation of bilateral agreements under two circumstances:

  • If the bilateral agreement specifically implicates the federal government to some action or specifically relates to federal jurisdiction; and/or
  • If a provincial or territorial party to a bilateral agreement requests the input of the federal government.