The Board of the Northern River Basins Study posed a series of questions as a basis for meeting its mandate. Question16,whichaddressedthefuture,asked"Whatformofinterjurisdictionalbodycan be established, ensuring stakeholders participation fo r the ongoing protection and use o f the river basins?"
This paper summarizes the working background for an answer. It sets the stage by proposing seven principles to crystallize the work of the Study, and in a similar number of goals, suggests what kind of river system is wanted. It then reviews models of other organizations structures used in similar situations. The uniqueness ofthe NRBS region makes it awkward to import something from outside. To make the case, special features about science and monitoring in the Basins, the overlap of special legislative conditions, and the roles of stakeholder, the public at large and First Nations are all examined to provide the background against which to decide. After considering preliminary results o f a stakeholder and household survey which firmly supported the establishment o f some post-NRBS infrastructure, the paper concludes that Question 16 is indeed legitimate and needs an answer.
Progress towards an answer is materially helped by a study by Steven Kennett and Owen Saunders (see references). Their pattern of thinking is applied to the NRBS situation and a series of conclusions offered as a basis for advancing an administrative strategy to recommend to the Board. In approaching these recommendations, a choice is exercised to propose a fairly firm and tightly constructed option, which might seem rigid but is calculated to be responsive to the very broad range of scientific and semi-political issues that are judged unique to this region. Furthermore, it seeks to be sensitive to constraints faced by present governments both in thinking and resources.
A two-tiered model is advanced, described through twenty-six separate recommendations. Based upon an Agreement between relevant governments, the first tier is a Board, with fairly broad representation that is seen as concerned mainly with interjurisdictional, whole river basin management. With due consideration, supported by research and public advice, this offers direction to the governments that created the Board. Separate from and independent of the Board, but within the Agreement, is a Committee, again, broadly representative of governments, First Nations, stakeholders and public, to oversee the stewardship of the management functions. Both units are seen to be economical in size and funded by partners in the Agreement. It is suggested that this be tried for five years, and reviewed thereafter. The proposal is designed so that it could fit within the Transboundary Management Agreement for Mackenzie River Basin which has been negotiated, but not yet signed. Appended to the paper, as an example, is a Draft Agreement of the type which the governments of Alberta, Northwest Territories, and Canada might conclude to meet the needs of the recommended structures.