Canada Gazette, Part I, Volume 155, Number 42: COMMISSIONS

October 16, 2021

CANADIAN RADIO-TELEVISION AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

NOTICE TO INTERESTED PARTIES

The Commission posts on its website original, detailed decisions, notices of consultation, regulatory policies, information bulletins and orders as they come into force. In accordance with the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission Rules of Practice and Procedure (2011), in Part 1 applications, these documents may be examined at the Commission’s office, as can be documents relating to a proceeding, including the notices and applications, which are posted on the Commission’s website, under “Public proceedings & hearings.”

The following documents are abridged versions of the Commission’s original documents.

CANADIAN RADIO-TELEVISION AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

NOTICES OF CONSULTATION
Notice number Publication date of the notice City Province Deadline for filing of interventions, comments or replies OR hearing date
2021-337 October 5, 2021 Gatineau Quebec November 4, 2021
DECISIONS
Decision number Publication date Applicant’s name Undertaking City Province
2021-334 October 4, 2021 Rogers Media Inc. CKKS-FM Chilliwack, Abbotsford and Vancouver British Columbia
2021-335 October 4, 2021 Sur Sagar Radio Inc. VF2689 Surrey British Columbia
2021-336 October 4, 2021 Carlsbad Springs Community Association CJRO-FM Carlsbad Springs and Sarsfield Ontario

INTERNATIONAL JOINT COMMISSION

BOUNDARY WATERS TREATY OF 1909

Public hearing on ISRSB’s report on managing water supply and food control in the Souris River basin

The International Joint Commission (IJC) is inviting public comment on recommendations made by the International Souris River Study Board (ISRSB) in a report that reviews the 1989 International Agreement between the Government of Canada and the Government of the United States of America for Water Supply and Flood Control in the Souris River Basin (the 1989 Agreement). Comments will be accepted at a public hearing to be held virtually on November 3, 2021, and by mail, email (commission@ijc.org) and online on the public consultation page until November 15, 2021. The ISRSB’s full report can be found on the Study Board’s website.

Public Hearing on ISRSB’s Report on Managing Water Supply and Flood Control in the Souris River Basin

Date: November 3, 2021

Time: 12–1:30 p.m. CDT (11 a.m.–12:30 p.m. MDT, 1:00–2:30 p.m. EDT)

Location: Virtual, register online on the public consultation page

The International Souris River Study Board was established by the IJC in 2017 to assist in responding to a reference by the governments of Canada and the United States under Article IX of the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909. The reference was precipitated by an unprecedented 2011 flood in the Souris River basin. The basin is part of the Prairie Pothole Region and stretches across Saskatchewan and Manitoba in Canada, and extends into North Dakota in the United States.

The governments asked the IJC to coordinate the full completion of the 2013 IJC Plan of Study (PDF). As part of this, the IJC was asked to evaluate and make recommendations regarding the Operating Plan contained in Annex A to the 1989 Agreement (PDF). Among other items, the agreement coordinates the operation of certain dams and reservoirs in the basin.

IJC recommendations to the two federal governments under Article IX of the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909 are not binding and not to be considered decisions of the two federal governments.

The Study Board findings and recommendations cover five themes:

The public hearing and comment period concern potential recommendations the IJC may make to the Governments of Canada and the United States. The Study Board findings include that the 1989 Agreement is functioning well and is effective at achieving its intended objectives of flood protection and water supply benefits, and they identify marginal or incremental benefits in five alternative measures recommended for further investigation. The recommendations being considered include the following:

  1. Modify the Winter Drawdown Elevation Targets to build greater flexibility into reservoir operations by varying reservoir elevation targets according to antecedent moisture conditions in the basin;
  2. Extend the Winter Drawdown Date from February 1 to March 1 to provide additional river flow for improved environmental benefits during February;
  3. Lower the Spring Maximum Flow Limits to reduce flood peaks and agricultural flood risk during small to moderate floods in riverine reaches in North Dakota (i.e. floods under 57–85 m3/s or 2 000 to 3 000 ft3/s;
  4. Establish a Summer Operating Plan to provide more guidance to reservoir operators to better manage summer reservoir operations under all conditions;
  5. Shift the Apportionment rule calculations to a Water Year (November to October) from the current Calendar Year (January to December) to ensure flood protection releases in November and December are credited toward apportionment.

The full Study Board report and recommendations (PDF) can be found by visiting the Commission’s website.

Commissioners will be present to hear comments on the Study Board’s report recommendations at the above referenced virtual public hearing on November 3, 2021. A public comment period on the ISRSB’s report will also be open through November 15, 2021. Public input is essential to the Commission’s consideration of a recommendation to the governments of the United States and Canada.

The International Joint Commission was established under the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909 to help the United States and Canada prevent and resolve disputes over the use of the waters the two countries share. The Commission’s responsibilities include investigating and reporting on issues of concern when asked by the governments of the two countries. For more information, visit the IJC website.

Contacts

Christina Chiasson
Ottawa, Ontario
Telephone: 613‑293‑1031
Email: christina.chiasson@ijc.org

Jeff Kart
Washington, DC
Telephone: 989‑372‑1229
Email: jeff.kart@ijc.org

October 16, 2021

Christopher Wilkie
Secretary, Canadian Section