SUMMARY OF ALBERTA-BRITISH COLUMBIA AGREEMENTS

Alberta-British Columbia Protocol of Co-operation (Calgary, AB – October 2003)

This protocol confirms the provinces’ commitment to develop co-operative measures and agreements. It demonstrates leadership in Canada in exploring opportunities for joint initiatives that expand provincial trade and investment opportunities; promote government efficiency and less public cost; identify best practices and innovations, and share expertise, in program development and service delivery; and influence federal policies and decisions in areas of mutual interest.

October 2003 (Calgary, AB)

MOU on Acquisition and Delivery of Learning Resources

This agreement makes learning resources more accessible in both provinces through operational efficiencies and cost savings in acquiring and delivering materials.

MOU on Tourism Initiatives

British Columbia and Alberta identified potential partnership opportunities to undertake joint efforts to market and promote tourism and travel to key overseas and North American markets.

MOU on Child Welfare

The objective of this MOU is to produce key deliverables in the areas of information sharing on child welfare best practices, database development and strategic planning in areas of common interest.

MOU on Joint Use Vehicle Inspection Stations

Under this agreement, joint facilities streamline management and regulation of the motor carrier. A jointly funded business plan determines project feasibility, and establishes joint inspection stations along the border. The provinces also share traveler information messaging and technology along the border.

(Signed in December 2004 between the Calgary and Prince Rupert meetings.)

May 2004 (Prince Rupert, B.C.)

MOU on Cooperation and Collaboration on E-Learning

This MOU aims to improve student online learning, the quality of online course and instructional practices. Provinces share and develop a wide range of online content, and support, tools and resources for educators, learners and parents.

MOU on Energy Cooperation and Regulatory Harmonization

This protocol confirms provinces’ commitments to work with energy ministries and regulatory agencies to streamline, harmonize and mutually adopt regulatory best practices regulations for a more effective and efficient regulatory environment, greater regulatory certainty and sustained investment.

MOU on Environmental Co-operation and Harmonization

This MOU established a co-operation framework between Alberta Environment and the British Columbia Ministry of Environment (formerly the Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection) to develop and implement collaborative strategic approaches to common areas of environmental management, including regulatory harmonization.

MOU on Public Health Emergencies

When public health emergencies arise in Alberta or British Columbia, work under this MOU helps health systems and resources in both provinces respond efficiently and cost-effectively.

MOU on Highway Traveller Information Sharing

Both provinces agree to work collaboratively toward a co-ordinated and strategic approach to providing highway traveller information to the travelling public, with information shared provincially and federally.

Internal Trade Framework Agreement

The framework is confirmed as the basis for consultations and negotiation of a comprehensive bilateral agreement to enhance trade, investment and labour mobility between the two provinces.

March 2005 (Cranbrook, B.C.)

MOU Alberta-British Columbia Protocol for a Partnership in Support of Assistive Technology and Other Specialized Services to Students with Special Needs

The goal is to ensure a high standard of services is available, affordable, and accessible to students with special needs, supported with efficient and cost-effective technology (Formally signed September 2004 between meetings).

MOU on Co-operation in Labour Market Programming

This MOU enhances co-operation through shared information on labour market programming; determination of best practices; increased service effectiveness; and improved services and outcomes for income assistance clients, including entry to the job market for those employable. (Formally signed Oct 2004 between meetings).

MOU on Sharing of Olympic Training and Competition Facilities

The objective of this MOU is to provide access to training and competition facilities and programs for athletes, coaches and officials in targeted summer and winter sports.

MOU on Bilateral Water Management Negotiations

This MOU outlines the process, schedule, principles and information required to negotiate the Bilateral Water Management Agreement between British Columbia and Alberta.

MOA on Controlling Mountain Pine Beetle Infestations

This MOU enhances co-operation between the provinces to control and suppress MPB infestations.

april 2006 (Edmonton, AB)

Trade, Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement (TILMA)

This agreement will give businesses and workers greater access to a larger range of opportunities in both provinces, creating Canada’s second-largest economic region. The agreement has special provisions for energy, transportation, labour mobility, business and corporate registration, and procurement. A transition period to April 2009 allows both governments to amend legislation or regulations, and include additional sectors. Clear and comprehensive dispute resolution is augmented with dispute avoidance provisions.

MOU on Charter Buses

This is the first MOU to flow out of the TILMA agreement. This MOU allows licensed charter buses to have equal access to operate in both provinces without undue restrictions.

MOU on Energy Research, Technology Development and Innovation

This MOU commits Alberta and B.C. to work together on energy research, technology development, and innovation. Both provinces will share information and participate in joint projects and programs.

MOU on Interprovincial Parks

Under this MOU, Alberta and B.C. will co-operate to protect, plan, administer and manage provincial parks that abut each other along the borders of our two provinces. The MOU establishes the Kakwa-Willmore Interprovincial Park.

MOU on Post-Secondary Education

This MOU calls for co-operation in research and information sharing, and common approaches to advance the quality and availability of post-secondary education in each province (e.g. credit transfer; distance education programs).

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The MOUs signed will be available online at www.gov.bc.ca/igrs.