Proposed administrative agreement between the Government of Saskatchewan and the Government of Canada regarding the administration of the Wastewater Systems Effluent Regulations in Saskatchewan
THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA as represented by the Minister of the Environment (herein referred to as « Canada »)
AND
THE GOVERNMENT OF SASKATCHEWAN as represented by the Minister Responsible for the Water Security Agency (herein referred to as "Saskatchewan”)
WHEREAS Canada and Saskatchewan are signatories to the Canada-wide Strategy for the Management of Municipal Wastewater Effluent that establishes national performance standards for effluent quality from wastewater systems that discharge wastewater effluent to surface water and establishes a one-window approach to governance, so owners and operators of wastewater systems deal with a single regulatory body;
AND WHEREAS Canada published the Wastewater Systems Effluent Regulations as one of the federal government’s commitments to implement the Canada-wide Strategy for the Management of Municipal Wastewater Effluent;
AND WHEREAS Saskatchewan’s, Environmental Management and Protection Act, 2010 came into force on June 1, 2015;
AND WHEREAS Saskatchewan’s, The Waterworks and Sewage Works Regulations, which aim to protect provincial water from pollution through, among other measures, the issuance of permits to construct, modify, or operate sewage works also came into force on June 1, 2015;
AND WHEREAS Saskatchewan has in place its Drinking Water and Wastewater Enforcement Protocol (EPB 222) – April 2008 and Canada has in place its Compliance and Enforcement Policy for the Habitat Protection and Pollution Prevention Provisions of the Fisheries Act - November 2001; as amended from time to time;
AND WHEREAS Canada and Saskatchewan recognize that there is a benefit to adopting a cooperative and harmonized approach to reduce administrative duplication resulting from comparable legislative and regulatory provisions, and that there is a need to specify the procedures of this approach in an agreement;
AND WHEREAS Canada and Saskatchewan agree that Saskatchewan, due to its existing relationship with owners and operators of municipally, privately and provincially owned wastewater systems, is well positioned to act as the point of contact for the administration of the Wastewater Systems Effluent Regulations;
AND WHEREAS section 4.1 of the Fisheries Act and the Order Designating the Minister of the Environment as the Minister Responsible for the Administration and Enforcement of Subsections 36(3) to (6) of the Fisheries Act enable the Minister of the Environment to enter into agreements with a province to further the purposes of the Act, including facilitating joint action in areas of common interest, reducing overlap and harmonizing respective programs;
AND WHEREAS paragraph 3(8)(a) of the Environmental Management and Protection Act, 2010 enables, the Minister Responsible for the Water Security Agency, subject to Lieutenant Governor in Council approval, to enter into agreements with the Government of Canada for the purposes of furthering, undertaking and enforcing the Minister’s activities and responsibilities pursuant to this Act;
AND WHEREAS the Minister Responsible for the Water Security Agency is the appropriate Minister under OC 476/2024 for matters related to municipally, privately and provincially owned wastewater systems covered by the WSER in Saskatchewan, is authorized to enter into this Administrative Agreement on behalf of the Government of Saskatchewan;
NOW THEREFORE Canada and Saskatchewan (herein referred to as “the Parties” collectively and “Party” individually) agree as follows:
1. DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION
1.1 “Agreement” means this Administrative Agreement and includes annexes A, and B and any amendments made to the Agreement in accordance with section 9.1 herein.
1.2 “Authorization Officer” has the same meaning as that set out in section 1 of the Wastewater Systems Effluent Regulations.
1.3 “Compliance Promotion Manager” means any holder of the position Compliance Promotion Manager of the Science & Licensing Division of the Water Security Agency.
1.4 “Compliance Promotion” means any actions or measures, taken by Canada or Saskatchewan that promote conformity with the Wastewater Systems Effluent Regulations.
1.5 “Enforcement Activities” means the activities and measures undertaken by specifically designated personnel as described in the Compliance and Enforcement Policy for the Habitat Protection and Pollution Prevention Provisions of the Fisheries Act - November 2001, as amended from time to time, and in the Drinking Water and Wastewater Enforcement Protocol (EPB 222) of Saskatchewan, as amended from time to time.
1.6 “Environment and Climate Change Canada” or “ECCC” means the Department of the Environment of the Government of Canada.
1.7 “The Environmental Management and Protection Act, 2010” or “EMPA 2010” means The Environmental Management and Protection Act, 2010, Chapter E-10.22 of the Statutes of Saskatchewan, as amended from time to time.
1.8 “ERRIS” means Canada’s Effluent Regulatory Reporting Information System, a web-based national reporting system used to collect and store the information reported under the Wastewater Systems Effluent Regulations.
1.9 “Fisheries Act” means the Fisheries Act, R.S.C., 1985, c. F-14, as amended from time to time.
1.10 “Management Committee” means the committee that the Parties agree to establish as described in section 5.5 and in Annex B of this Agreement.
1.11 “Permit” means a permit issued to the owner of a “Sewage Works”, as defined in section 1.12 below, by the Minister Responsible for the Water Security Agency pursuant to subsection 27(2), paragraph 28(1)(h) and subsection 28(9) of EMPA 2010, which sets out the terms and conditions by which a Sewage Works may be operated, and which may include a permit, order, licence or approval continued as a permit issued pursuant to that Act, and which has not expired or been suspended or cancelled.
1.12 “Sewage Works” has the same meaning as set out in subsection 2(1)(ee) of the Environmental Management and Protection Act, 2010.
1.13 “Wastewater System” has the same meaning as set out in section 1 of the Wastewater Systems Effluent Regulations.
1.14 “Wastewater Systems Effluent Regulations” or “WSER” means the regulations registered as SOR/2012-139 made under the Fisheries Act and published in the Canada Gazette, Part II, on July 18, 2012, as amended from time to time.
1.15 “The Waterworks and Sewage Works Regulations” means The Waterworks and Sewage Works Regulations, Chapter E-10.22 Reg 3, under the EMPA 2010 as amended from time to time.
1.16 “Water Security Agency” or “WSA” means the Water Security Agency, a Crown corporation of the Government of Saskatchewan.
1.17 “WSER Regulated Community” means the owners and operators of Wastewater Systems in Saskatchewan, which are municipally, privately, or provincially owned or operated, and subject to the WSER.
1.18 For the purposes of interpretation, the words in the singular include the plural and vice versa and words in one gender include all genders.
2. PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES OF THE AGREEMENT
2.1 Purpose
The purpose of this Agreement is to facilitate cooperation between the Parties with respect to the administration and enforcement of the WSER and to reduce duplication resulting from comparable federal and provincial legislation with respect to wastewater in Saskatchewan.
2.2 Objectives
The objectives of this Agreement are to
2.2.1 Identify the holder of the position designated as the Authorization Officer in Saskatchewan for Column 3 of Schedule 1 of the WSER and his or her duties as related to the administration of those regulations.
2.2.2 Describe roles and responsibilities for the Parties in order to facilitate cooperation in the administration of the WSER, including recognizing Saskatchewan as the point of contact for the administration of the WSER for the WSER Regulated Community.
2.2.3 Describe how the Parties will endeavour to cooperate with respect to Enforcement Activities taking place under their respective responsibilities, to help increase the effectiveness and efficiency of each Party’s enforcement efforts, while recognizing that Canada is at all times responsible for the enforcement of the WSER, and that Saskatchewan is at all times responsible for the enforcement of The Waterworks and Sewage Works Regulations.
2.2.4 Establish the procedures for the Parties’ collaboration relative to the ERRIS for the reporting of information in accordance with the requirements in the WSER.
2.2.5 Establish a Management Committee to oversee the implementation of this Agreement.
3. Principles
3.1 The Parties’ decisions will be based on science and risk-management approaches to achieve positive environmental and health results.
3.2 The Parties will act to address environmental matters in ways which respect their jurisdiction and responsibility. Nothing in this Agreement alters the legislative or other authority of the governments or the rights of either Party with respect to the exercise of their legislative or other authorities.
3.3 The Parties agree on the importance of timeliness and minimal duplication throughout the implementation of this Agreement.
3.4 The Parties recognize the importance of regular and open communication to ensure effective information sharing and cooperation, and to prevent overlapping activities and disputes between the Parties to this Agreement.
4. AUTHORIZATION OFFICERS
4.1 The Compliance Promotion Manager is designated as the Authorization Officer for the purpose of the WSER for the province of Saskatchewan as set out in Column 3 of Schedule 1 of the WSER.
4.2 Notwithstanding the definition of the term Compliance Promotion Manager in Section 1 of this Agreement, Saskatchewan may, during the term of this Agreement, decide for internal operational purposes that the position title must change. In the event that such a change is required and imminent, Saskatchewan shall immediately provide written notice of the change in position title to Canada’s chairperson of the Management Committee. Notwithstanding section 9.1 of this Agreement, the new position title shall automatically replace the previous position title in the definition of the term Compliance Promotion Manager in Section 1 of the Agreement once Saskatchewan has officially changed the position title and Canada has published the change in the Canada Gazette. Canada and Saskatchewan may take any other reasonable steps to inform the WSER Regulated Community as they deem appropriate.
5. ACTIVITIES COVERED BY THIS AGREEMENT
The Parties agree to collaborate in carrying out the following activities:
5.1 Reporting
5.1.1 For the purposes of subsections 18(4), 19(4), and 48(1) of the WSER, the ERRIS is the electronic reporting system specified by Canada to be used by owners, operators and authorized representatives of Wastewater Systems for submitting or reporting information set out in sections 18, 19, 20, 25, 35 and 44 of the WSER.
5.1.2 The Parties will have access to the information in ERRIS that is reported by the WSER Regulated Community. The Parties will also have access to the information provided by other means, including progress reports submitted under subsection 29(2) of the WSER and final reports on temporary bypass authorizations submitted under subsection 45.2(3) of the WSER.
5.1.3 Canada will provide the Compliance Promotion Manager and Water Security Agency officials that support for administration of the WSER under this agreement with sufficient privileged access to the ERRIS to carry out their responsibilities under the WSER. In so doing, Canada grants the Compliance Promotion Manager and Water Security Agency officials that support administration of the WSER under this agreement the right to use, download, and reproduce WSER-related information in ERRIS. Canada explicitly does not grant the right to modify or remove WSER-related information from ERRIS.
5.1.4 Where the WSER Regulated Community submits, in paper format or electronic, information for the purposes of reporting under sections 18, 19, 20, 25, 35 or 44 of the WSER, the Compliance Promotion Manager and Water Security Agency officials that support administration of the WSER under this agreement will record said information into ERRIS.
5.1.5 Saskatchewan will keep all WSER-related information submitted or reported in paper or electronic format by the WSER Regulated Community for the term of this Agreement, including reports submitted under subsections 29(2) and 45.2(3) of the WSER. Unless requested earlier by Canada, Saskatchewan will provide documents electronically to the Wastewater Section of Environment and Climate Change Canada no later than three months following termination or expiry of this Agreement.
5.1.6 Canada will provide guidance materials, operating procedures and training on ERRIS and administration of the WSER to the Compliance Promotion Manager and Water Security Agency officials that support administration of the WSER under this agreement.
5.1.7 The Parties’ roles and responsibilities concerning ERRIS are detailed in Annex A.
5.2 Program Administration for the WSER
5.2.1 Saskatchewan will be the point of contact for the Regulated Community on the administration of the WSER.
5.2.2 Saskatchewan will review the information submitted by the WSER Regulated Community to identify any suspected non-compliance.
5.2.3 Saskatchewan, while providing information and guidance and undertaking measures to encourage compliance with the requirements of the Saskatchewan Permits related to Sewage Works made under the EMPA 2010, will also provide the information and guidance to the WSER Regulated Community as appropriate, to promote awareness and compliance of WSER requirements.
5.2.4 Saskatchewan will identify members of the WSER Regulated Community suspected of non-compliance with the WSER and, as soon as feasible upon such identification refer any suspected instances of non-compliance with the WSER to Environment and Climate Change Canada, as outlined in the standard operating procedures.
5.2.5 Saskatchewan will inform the manager of Enforcement’s Saskatchewan Operations, Environment and Climate Change Canada, when initiating enforcement measures regarding a member of the WSER Regulated Community suspected of non-compliance under EMPA 2010.
5.2.6 Saskatchewan will document each interaction that promotes awareness of WSER with the WSER Regulated Community, the date, nature of interactions, name and titles of persons contacted, and measures undertaken to promote awareness of WSER requirements. This information will be provided to the Manager of the Wastewater Section, Environment and Climate Change Canada, as requested, and within the time frame requested.
5.2.7 Saskatchewan will follow all standard operating procedures and guidance in reviewing authorization applications and ensure that all eligibility criteria and requirements have been met before approving any authorizations. Any material updates to these standard operating procedures must be provided to Saskatchewan in writing, with a minimum of 30 days’ notice before implementation.
5.2.8 Saskatchewan will provide the Manager of the Wastewater Section, Environment and Climate Change Canada, as soon as feasible but no later than five business days a copy of any issued or refused authorizations.
5.2.9 Saskatchewan will send a referral to Environment and Climate Change Canada, as outlined in the standard operating procedures provided by Environment and Climate Change Canada, as soon as it has been made aware of any releases of wastewater that cannot be authorized under the WSER.
5.2.10 Saskatchewan will also provide a copy of all reports as required under subsection 29(2) and 45.2(3) to the Manager of the Wastewater Section, Environment and Climate Change Canada, as soon as feasible but within 10 days after submission.
5.2.11 Saskatchewan will provide an annual summary to the Management Committee regarding activities under sections 5.2.3, 5.2.4, 5.2.5, 5.2.6, 5.2.7, 5.2.8., 5.2.9, and 5.2.10 of this Agreement on or before May 31 of each year, for the previous calendar year.
5.3 Cooperation on Compliance Promotion
5.3.1 The Parties agree they may collaborate in delivering regional presentations to the WSER Regulated Community and the owners and operators of municipally, privately and provincially owned or operated Wastewater Systems operating under Permits regarding the WSER, The Waterworks and Sewage Works Regulations and the EMPA 2010 during the term of this Agreement, as deemed necessary.
5.3.2 The Parties may collaborate on assessing how best to use the wastewater and municipal associations to provide information to the WSER Regulated Community in Saskatchewan during the term of this Agreement.
5.3.3 Canada is responsible for the development of its compliance promotion materials for the WSER and Saskatchewan is responsible for distributing this material to WSER regulated communities.
5.3.4 Saskatchewan will comply with all applicable laws and adhere to the WSER guidance material developed by Canada in carrying out their responsibilities as set out in this Agreement.
5.4 Cooperation on Enforcement
5.4.1 The Parties agree to cooperate with respect to Enforcement Activities taking place under their respective responsibilities. This cooperation may include, but is not limited to, planning and coordination of Enforcement Activities, sharing all types of information such as inspection reports and evidence, undertaking joint inspections and other activities as deemed appropriate. The means of cooperation will be established by the Management Committee as described in section 2.2 of Annex B to this Agreement.
5.4.2 Canada is the point of contact for the enforcement of the WSER and remains responsible at all times for the enforcement of the WSER and the pollution prevention provisions of the Fisheries Act.
5.4.3 Saskatchewan is the point of contact for the enforcement of EMPA 2010 and The Waterworks and Sewage Works Regulations and remains responsible at all times for their enforcement.
5.5 Management Committee for this Agreement
5.5.1 The Parties will establish a Management Committee to oversee the implementation of this Agreement.
5.5.2 The roles and responsibilities of the Management Committee are described in the terms of reference appended to this Agreement as Annex B.
6. ACCOUNTABILITY
6.1 Each Party remains ultimately accountable and legally responsible for the administration and enforcement of its own regulatory and legislative requirements with respect to wastewater effluent.
7. ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND PRIVACY
7.1 The Parties expressly acknowledge that their respective access to information and protection of privacy legislation applies to information gathered by or exchanged between parties for the purpose of complying with this Agreement and agree to work together to honour and respect each other’s legal obligations under that legislation.
7.2 The Parties agree to notify each other through the Management Committee of any application for access to information received relating to this Agreement.
8. FINANCIAL PROVISIONS
8.1 Canada will provide financial compensation to Saskatchewan in the total amount of $181,425, for the term of this Agreement, for the activities set out in this Agreement undertaken by Saskatchewan that are above and beyond the Saskatchewan commitment to implement the Canada-wide Strategy for the Management of Municipal Wastewater Effluent.
8.2 Payment of the total amount set out in section 8.1 of this Agreement will be made in five equal installments of $36,285, with the first installment to be made following the date upon which this Agreement becomes effective, in respect of the first twelve-month period of the term of this Agreement, and each succeeding installment to be made within, and in respect of, each subsequent twelve-month period of the term of this Agreement.
8.3 In the event that this Agreement is terminated by either Party prior to the end of the term of this Agreement, Canada will discontinue payment of any of the remaining installments set out in section 8.2 of this Agreement and Saskatchewan will reimburse Canada a pro-rated amount of the installment received in that twelve-month period in which the Agreement is terminated, no later than sixty days following termination of the Agreement.
9. AMENDMENT AND REVIEW OF THIS AGREEMENT
9.1 This Agreement may be amended from time to time by mutual written consent of the Ministers.
9.2 Canada will conduct a review of this Agreement 18 months before its expiry. The review will, at a minimum, determine whether the objectives, roles, and responsibilities and activities have been met or undertaken, and identify any corrective action that may be required. The review will also assess activities and tasks in relation to overall funds transferred. Outcomes of the review will be discussed with the Management Committee in advance of the expiration of the Agreement.
9.3 Canada will retain the intellectual property rights and interests in the review report referred to in section 9.2. In the event that Saskatchewan wishes to contribute to the review or to conduct a joint review of the Agreement with Canada, the Parties will collaborate to establish how the review will be carried out, addressing at minimum the requirements described above, and adequately deal with the question of intellectual property rights and interests in the review report.
10. EXECUTION, DURATION AND TERMINATION OF THE AGREEMENT
10.1 This Agreement may be signed in several counterparts and each counterpart constitutes an original document; these counterparts taken together constitute one and the same Agreement. The Parties agree that executed counterparts may be transmitted by facsimile machine or email and that such counterparts will be treated as originally executed instruments. Each Party undertakes to provide the other Party with an original copy of the Agreement bearing their respective actual original signatures within a reasonable period of time following execution of this Agreement.
10.2 This Agreement becomes effective on the date of the last signature affixed to this Agreement.
10.3 This Agreement terminates five years after the date on which it comes into effect.
10.4 This Agreement may be terminated earlier by either Party giving the other Party at least six months written notice of termination; the notice would be sent through the Management Committee.
10.5 The Parties have agreed to prepare this Agreement in the English language.
11. DISPUTE RESOLUTION
11.1 The Parties agree that any dispute between them with respect to the interpretation, implementation, and administration of this Agreement is to be resolved by the lead Executive Director of the Water Security Agency and Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Manager of the Wastewater Section within twenty business days of the dispute being brought to the attention of the Parties.
11.2 Nothing in this Agreement precludes either of the Parties from fulfilling their respective mandates and obligations pursuant to their respective jurisdictions while the Parties reach a resolution or from taking such actions as may be deemed necessary in the event the Parties fail to reach résolution
12. ENTIRE AGREEMENT
12.1 This Agreement constitutes the entire and sole agreement between the Parties and supersedes all other communications, negotiations, and agreements between the Parties in relation to the purpose and subject matter of this Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been executed on behalf of Canada by the federal Minister of the Environment, and on behalf of Saskatchewan by the Minister Responsible for the Water Security Agency.
FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA
__________________________________________
THE HONOURABLE Julie Dabrusin
Minister of the Environment
Date ______________________________________
FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF Saskatchewan
___________________________________________
THE HONOURABLE Daryl Harrison
Minister Responsible for the Water Security Agency
Date _______________________________________
ANNEX A
THE PARTIES’ ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES CONCERNING THE EFFLUENT REGULATORY REPORTING INFORMATION SYSTEM (ERRIS)
1. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Working together the Parties will do the following:
1.1 Coordinate activities related to ERRIS such as Canada training of Saskatchewan officials on the use and function of the reporting system and assign responsibility for carrying out those activities agreed to by the Parties;
Canada will do the following:
1.2 Operate, modify, and maintain ERRIS to collect and store the information required to be reported under the WSER;
1.3 Provide the Compliance Promotion Manager and all Water Security Agency officials who support administration of the WSER under this agreement with training material, guidance and standard operating procedures for ERRIS that outlines the requirements and specifications supporting the WSER reporting requirements;
1.4 Provide the Compliance Promotion Manager and all Water Security Agency officials who support administration of the WSER under this agreement with the ability to download the WSER information submitted by the WSER Regulated Community through the ERRIS;
1.5 Provide secure handling, storage, and real-time access by Canada and Saskatchewan of information submitted to the ERRIS;
1.6 Canada shall provide updated training within 30 days of any material change to ERRIS functionality or regulatory ; and
Saskatchewan will do the following:
1.7 Request access/training on the WSER and ERRIS for any Water Security Agency officials supporting the administration of the WSER. This training, provided by Canada, must ensure continuity in carrying out responsibilities of the agreement.
2. REGULATORY REPORTING USING THE ERRIS
Canada will provide the following through ERRIS:
2.1 The use of the Environment and Climate Change Canada single window information management system as the point of access to ERRIS for the establishment of ERRIS user accounts and user roles;
2.2. The online modules and associated interfaces necessary for the WSER Regulated Community to complete the identification report, as per section 18 of the WSER; to complete the monitoring reports, as per section 19 of the WSER; to complete the combined sewer overflow reports, as per section 20 of the WSER; to complete an application for a transition authorization, as per section 25 and subsection 48(1) of the WSER; to complete an application for a temporary authorization to deposit un-ionized ammonia, as per section 35 and subsection 48(1) of the WSER; to complete an application for a temporary bypass authorization, as per section 44 and subsection 48(1) of the WSER; and
2.3 The ability for the Compliance Promotion Manager and Water Security Agency officials that support administration of the WSER under this agreement to generate reports stored within ERRIS to assess compliance of the WSER Regulated Community with WSER requirements.
3. COSTS AND EXPENDITURES
3.1 Canada will be responsible for all costs of operating, modifying, and maintaining the ERRIS modules that are or would be required for the collection of the information required to be reported under the WSER during the term of this Agreement.
3.2 Saskatchewan will be responsible for all costs related to the management of the WSER-related information collected through ERRIS, once this information is downloaded to the Saskatchewan information management system, and information is collected and recorded in another format.
ANNEX B
TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE FOR THE ADMINSTRATIVE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA AND THE GOVERNMENT OF SASKATCHEWAN REGARDING THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE WASTEWATER SYSTEMS EFFLUENT REGULATIONS
1. MEMBERS
1.1. The Management Committee will be chaired by a representative of the Wastewater Section of Environment and Climate Change Canada.
1.2. The Management Committee will include representatives from Canada and Saskatchewan, and include at least one representative responsible for ERRIS, one representative from the enforcement’s Saskatchewan Operations Team of Environment and Climate Change Canada, one enforcement coordination representative from the Water Security Agency, appointed respectively by the Parties.
1.3. A Party may appoint alternates as per section 5.2 of this Annex.
1.4. Chairperson, representatives, and alternates will be considered members of the Management Committee.
2. RESPONSIBILITIES
The Management Committee is responsible for the following:
2.1 Overseeing the implementation of this Agreement;
2.2 Establishing any necessary procedures required to effectively administer this Agreement, such as cooperation on enforcement and those ensuring that all relevant information is requested and provided appropriately to meet the timing requirements of both Parties in accordance with this Agreement;
2.3 Facilitating the complete and timely exchange of information relevant to this Agreement in accordance with relevant sections of this Agreement;
2.4 Administering and adhering to the financial provisions of this Agreement;
2.5 Making recommendations to the Parties regarding any amendments to this Agreement that may be required;
2.6 Establishing a concerted approach to the communication of information to the public and responses to media inquiries regarding this Agreement;
2.7 Providing written recommendations to the Parties, taking into consideration the review referred to in section 9.2 of this Agreement, for any future potential Agreement; and
2.8 Resolving disputes which may arise between the Parties, as described in section 11 of this Agreement.
3. OPERATION OF THE COMMITTEE
3.1 The Management Committee may create joint federal-provincial working groups that report to the Management Committee to assist it in the effective implementation and management of this Agreement.
3.2 All decisions of the Management Committee will be made on a consensus basis by the lead Water Security Agency Executive Director and Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Manager of the Wastewater Section.
3.3 Notwithstanding the expiry or termination of this Agreement, the Management Committee will have six months to complete its activities following the expiry or termination of this Agreement.
3.4 Canada will hold the secretariat function for the Management Committee.
3.5 The Management Committee is to record in writing and share via email all decision taken during its meetings.
4. PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS
4.1 Where possible, public facing and media inquiries arising from the activities undertaken pursuant to this Agreement are to be coordinated by Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Manager of the Wastewater Section and lead Water Security Agency Executive Director.
4.2 Where one party responds to public facing and media inquiries without prior consultation with the other party, the responding party is to inform either the lead WSA Executive Director or ECCC’s Manager of the Wastewater Section and other Committee members as soon as possible.
5. MEETINGS
5.1 The Management Committee is to meet a minimum of two times per year to implement this Agreement, or upon the request of one of the Parties, at a place and time mutually agreed upon.
5.2 The Party who appointed the members to the Management Committee may authorize an alternate to replace a member at Management Committee meetings on an ad hoc basis.