Through his involvement with local government in the Kootenay region, Mr. Smienk recognized community concerns with respect to the long-term effects on the region of dams constructed under the Columbia River Treaty.

In 1993, Mr. Smienk, in his role as Regional District Director, convinced the Association of Kootenay Boundary Municipalities to champion this issue. They accepted, naming him Chair of the AKBM Treaty Committee. A new organization was established, known as the Columbia River Treaty Committee (CRTC), which involved all local governments in the Basin. Mr. Smienk chaired the CRTC from its inception to the successful conclusion of negotiations with the Provincial Government for a regional equity financial agreement.

This resulted in the formation of the Columbia Basin Trust (CBT) with assets of $327 million to invest in the region as well as expansion rights to three existing hydro-electric facilities. Mr. Smienk is Chair of CBT, a special crown corporation controlled by an 18 member Board of Directors, all of whom are resident in the Basin.

In addition to his work with CBT, Mr. Smienk is an elected Director of the Regional District of Central Kootenay, a position he has held for six consecutive terms of office. He was also appointed to the BC Task Force on Electric Market Reform and was Co-Chair of the Columbia River Basin Trans-boundary Ecosystem Management Forum.