The Fraser Basin is a place where social well-being is supported by a vibrant economy and sustained by a healthy environment.
Charter for Sustainability
The Fraser Basin Council's Charter for Sustainability marks a new era in stewardship for the Fraser Basin. The individuals, organizations, governments and communities who support the Charter accept its overall intent and principles and agree to do their part to pursue its goals. The names of the original signatories to the document can be found on the last page of the Charter.
Charter for Sustainability
The Charter for Sustainability was developed in 1997 by the FBC's predecessor, the Fraser Basin Management Board (FBMP). Created by the federal, provincial and local governments in 1992, the FBMP was given a mandate to develop a strategic plan for the entire Fraser Basin. This plan was formalized in the Charter. The FBC now oversees the implementation of the Charter, and its vision statement provides the cornerstone upon which the FBC establishes its priorities and develops its programs.
The Charter is a good-faith agreement among Basin residents and organizations to work towards the social, economic and environmental sustainability of the Fraser Basin. It outlines the vision, directions, principles, goals and values that will lead to a better, more sustainable future. The Charter is not a legally binding document nor does it interfere with any existing laws, agreements, treaties or policies.
The Charter takes a watershed management approach to addressing issues and resolving conflicts in the Fraser Basin. Planning and decision-making occur within watershed boundaries as these boundaries remain stable over time, are easily recognized and provide natural limits for managing social, economic, environmental and institutional connections.
Charter Directions and Goals
To achieve its vision, the Charter for Sustainability outlines four strategic directions for its activities. Each direction features goals and suggestions on how those goals can be achieved.
- Understanding Sustainability
- Governments, community groups and individuals recognize why and how they can contribute to building vibrant communities, developing strong and diverse economies and maintaining the air, water, land and living species that make up our ecosystems.
- Caring for Ecosystems
- We are all stewards of resources such as water, forests, fish, wildlife and land. As stewards, we conserve and enhance our ecosystems to maintain strong and diverse economies and to support growing communities. In this way, we not only enjoy our natural environment, but also conserve it to support our high quality of life.
- Strengthening Communities
- Communities benefit from local experience, skills and values. Strong communities are built on a diverse economy, an educated workforce, safe neighbourhoods, accessibility to basic commodities, shared goals, local action and a sense of belonging.
- Improving Decision-Making
- Decision-making is shared and we work together to reach creative agreements and achieve common goals that reflect the interests of a growing population mixed in gender, culture, religion, age and interest. Aboriginal rights and title now being defined are reconciled in a just and fair manner.
For details on the goals for each strategic direction, go to: Charter for Sustainability.
Charter Principles for Sustainability
To guide its activities, the Charter outlines twelve important principles on how the FBC and its partners, directors and staff will conduct business.
- Mutual Dependence
- Land, water, air and all living organisms including humans are integral parts of the ecosystem. Biodiversity must be conserved.
- Accountability
- Each of us is responsible for the social, economic and environmental consequences of our decisions and accountable for our actions.
- Equity
- All communities and regions must have equal opportunities to provide for the social, economic and environmental, needs of residents.
- Integration
- Consideration of social, economic and environmental costs and benefits must be an integral part of all decision making.
- Adaptive Approaches
- Plans and activities must be adaptable and able to respond to external pressures and changing social values.
- Coordinated and Cooperative Efforts
- Coordinated and cooperative efforts are needed among all government and non-government interests.
- Open and Informed Decision Making
- Open decision making depends on the best available information.
- Exercising Caution
- Caution must be exercised when shaping decisions to avoid making irreversible mistakes.
- Managing Uncertainty
- A lack of certainty should not prevent decisive actions for sustainability.
- Recognition
- There must be recognition of existing rights, agreements and obligations in all decision making.
- Aboriginal Rights and Title
- We recognize that aboriginal nations within the Fraser Basin assert aboriginal rights and title. These rights and title now being defined must be acknowledged and reconciled in a just and fair manner.
- Transition Takes Time
- Sustainability is a journey that requires constant feedback, learning and adjustment. In the short-term, the elements of sustainability may not always be in balance.
The Charter embodies two sets of values that have been critical to the success of the Fraser Basin Council. One set of values incorporates the fundamental principles and integrated elements of sustainability, namely strong communities, a healthy environment and a robust economy. The second set asserts the FBC's culture and how it will work together toward sustainability. These values include understanding and respecting the opinions of others, accepting all members as peers, valuing balance over extreme positions, taking action based on consensus, and creating strong trust among members. These shared values have enabled members to learn how to make decisions that will enable sustainability.
These shared values have also enabled the FBC to become an unprecedented mechanism in which the four orders of Canadian government (federal, provincial, local and First Nations), the private sector and civil society can work together to enhance sustainability in a practical way. The FBC has helped change the approach to managing the Fraser River and its watershed to address the social, economic and environmental considerations of the entire system. This collaborative governance model is the first of its kind in Canada and addresses the limitations of the traditional hierarchy of multiple jurisdictions operating independently in a common system.