Meeting the Canadians on mutual ground

Relations between Canada and the United States have been at low ebb in recent years. What with differences over the invasion of Iraq and scraps over lumber and cattle, it seems important that folks get a chance to look each other in the eye once in a while and talk about mutual concerns. We shouldn't allow distrust and suspicion to overshadow cross-border friendships and the great deal we have in common.

In an effort to better know each other and the landscape we share, a small group of legislators from Montana and British Columbia met in August in a decidedly non-political environment. There has been a lot of attention in both British Columbia and Montana about a proposed open-pit coal mine in the Canadian Flathead Valley, known in Montana as the North Fork. The proposed mine is upstream and adjacent to Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, a World Heritage Site.

We journeyed to this remote mountain valley, set up a rustic streamside camp, and swapped stories around a campfire for a couple of nights. We hiked to an alpine meadow and took a look at the proposed mine site.

Getting to know each other, it became evident how much we have in common, yet also how separated our communities have become. When a controversial cross-border issue comes along, Montana and British Columbia have scant understanding or trust to serve as a foundation for discussions.

Our countries have developed ways to resolve and prevent disputes in the past. The U.S. and Canadian governments signed a treaty and established the International Joint Commission nearly 100 years ago to protect transboundary waters.

In 1988, the IJC unanimously recommended against a proposed coal mine in the Canadian Flathead and urged the two countries to work together to protect this world-class watershed. That hasn't happened yet, but it should. Otherwise it may be time for the International Joint Commission to intervene again.

This border region between British Columbia and Montana is a natural landscape of international significance. The beauty, diversity and wildness of this region have few peers. Decisions along the U.S.-Canadian border need to consider the human, economic and natural values for both countries. We urge the leaders of both nations to fully understand and consider these values. Land use and any new industrial development on both sides of the border need close evaluation.

We are particularly concerned that the Canadian Flathead is currently zoned for coal mining. We believe this must be reconsidered as there are higher values in this watershed that would be precluded by such development. Likewise, U.S. land-use policy in the North Fork may well require stronger conservation measures.

During our camping trip in the transboundary Flathead valley, we didn't discover any brilliant resolution to the mine dispute, nor were we able to represent our state and provincial governments in any formal way. Yet we did agree that land-use conflicts should be resolved by decision makers who come together with the goal of truly trying to understand each other's perspective. We would suggest that a very good place to do this is around a roaring campfire along a wild mountain stream on a crisp moonlit night.

Sen. Dan Weinberg represents Senate District 2. Corky Evans is a member of the British Columbia legislative assembly.