Mackenzie River Basin Board 2016 – 2019 Business Plan Intended to guide the MRBB through a transitionary period: bilateral water management agreements completed and implemented and The Board develops a longer term strategic plan informed by third party strategic and operational review. Based on 2010-2013 Business Plan

Board Priorities for 2016-2019 Prepare a State of the Aquatic Ecosystem Report; Improve the collaborative application of Traditional Knowledge Encourage greater involvement of Aboriginal people in activities of MRBB; Facilitate the development of bilateral water management agreements; Conduct a strategic and operational review of the MRBB; and Ongoing MRBB operations. Will be updated based on outcomes of MRBB Meeting 53 (SOAER and Technical Committee outcomes)

Resource Challenges MRBB annual fixed costs approximately $215,000 of the MRBB annual budget of $280,000 The MRBB currently anticipates that it will maintain a budget surplus through the 2016-2019 period. The Technical Committee has not yet been formally constituted and does not have a budget allocation. The Board anticipates that the major expenditures during the 2016-2019 period will include: Completing the 2017 State of the Aquatic Ecosystem Report. Conducting the third party strategic and operational review. Other activities, as defined by this work plan and needs defined in bilateral agreements.

The Role of MRBB Committees Functioning committees and working groups are needed to ensure MRBB achieves key deliverables. Board Members will need to ensure that they remain engaged in the MRBB committees and working groups in their role as Champions. While each MRBB Party will not necessarily be represented on all MRBB committees and working groups, the MRBB will collectively need to ensure that MRBB committees and working groups are adequately staffed and resourced. The MRBB cannot assume that the parties will allocate additional funds over and above the current funding regime, The MRBB will need to consider options and identify opportunities to help deliver on its mandate.

Opportunities The completion and implementation of bilateral water management agreements is changing the governance landscape in the Mackenzie River Basin The bilateral water management agreements commit the jurisdictions to work cooperatively within a regulatory framework Renewed water policy initiatives in each of the five MRBB jurisdictions: British Columbia’s renewed Water Sustainability Act Saskatchewan’s 25 Year Water Security Plan The Northwest Territories Water Stewardship Strategy Yukon’s Water Strategy Alberta’s Water for Life Strategy

Opportunities Greater impetus to enhance the knowledge base in the Mackenzie River Basin Tools and protocols to strengthen water management and governance capacity are being developed The MRBB can expect to draw upon the outcomes of this work to support its reporting and governance activities The bilateral water management agreements are widely considered to be cutting-edge water management tools Attracting local, national and international attention to the Mackenzie River Basin from academic and non-governmental bodies Fostering renewed interest to conduct systematic water-related research across the Mackenzie River Basin

The MRBB can leverage its geographic and governance scope to help encourage project outcomes that support the Board’s mandate. The MRBB can provide researchers with access to federal, provincial, and territorial research and policy staff who work on water issues in the Mackenzie River Basin. The Board can also provide access to regional indigenous organizations across the basin. The MRBB can, for example, encourage ongoing knowledge generation in the Mackenzie River Basin as a legacy outcome of a research project. The Tracking Change project may serve as a template for the Board to engage with other external actors, including academic and environmental non-governmental organizations. The MRBB can delegate its committee or ad hoc working groups to liaise between the Board and its external partner(s).

The MRBB will also explore options that will allow it to deliver on its mandate more efficiently. The MRBB can develop a living database of ecological and socio-economic indicators, to report on the state of the aquatic ecosystem in the Mackenzie River Basin. The living database may include indicators for which information is currently not available, but may be added in future. Jurisdictions in the Mackenzie River Basin have initiated discussions aimed at identifying objectives and triggers for key water quality indicators. will eventually include water quantity and aquatic ecosystem health objectives and triggers. The MRBB will also explore alternate ways of reporting on its mandate, including using GIS-based digital platforms to support SOAE reporting.