International River Improvements Act Annual Report for 2017

The goal of the International River Improvements Act is to ensure that Canada’s water resources in international river basins are developed and used in the national interest. The act has been in force since July 11, 1955, and the responsibility for administering the act has been with the Minister of Environment since June 1971.

Section 51 of the act requires that a report of the operations under the act be tabled in each House of Parliament after the end of each calendar year. This annual report covers activities under the act during the 2017 calendar year.

The act states that no person shall construct, operate or maintain an “international river improvement” unless the person holds a valid licence under the act. An “international river” is defined as “water flowing from any place in Canada to any place outside Canada.” The major international rivers and their corresponding watersheds are situated in the western provinces. There are also some small rivers and streams along the Canada–United States boundary in Quebec and New Brunswick that are categorized as international rivers. The act provides for the licensing of an “international river improvement” which is defined as a dam, obstruction, canal, reservoir, pipeline or other work the purpose or effect of which is (a) to increase, decrease or alter the natural flow of an international river, and (b) to interfere with, alter or affect the actual or potential use of the international river outside Canada. The licences can be issued for a period not exceeding 50 years. The act ensures that Canada can meet its obligations under the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909.

The act does not apply to an international river improvement built under the authority of an act of the Parliament of Canada, situated within boundary waters, or constructed, operated or maintained solely for domestic, sanitary or irrigation purposes or  other similar consumptive uses.

There is one set of regulations under the act, namely the International River Improvements Regulations, which were passed by an Order in Council in 1955, and amended in 1987 and 1993.

The regulations allow for exceptions to the application of the act under two conditions: if there are insignificant effects on river flows or levels at the Canada – United States boundary (i.e., effect of less than 3 centimetres on the level or less than 0.3 cubic metres per second on the flow of water at the Canadian boundary), or if the improvement is of a temporary nature, to be operated for a period not exceeding two years. For a project that is subject to those exceptions, the proponent is nonetheless required to notify the Minister in writing and include specific information as required under the regulations.

Activity in 2017

In 2017, one licence was issued under the regulations.

In April 2017, the Minister issued a twenty-year licence to the Saskatchewan Power Corporation (SaskPower) for the operation and maintenance of the Morrison Dam and Cookson Reservoir in Saskatchewan. These works, which have been licensed under the act since 1975, are located on the East Poplar River, which crosses the Montana-Canada boundary. Cookson Reservoir provides the principal source of cooling water for the Poplar River Power Station (630 MW) near the town of Coronach, Saskatchewan.