NEWS RELEASES
AXWORTHY APPOINTS LEONARD LEGAULT TO INTERNATIONAL JOINT COMMISSION
January 30, 1997 No. 14
AXWORTHY APPOINTS LEONARD LEGAULT
TO INTERNATIONAL JOINT COMMISSION
Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today announced the appointment of Leonard
Legault as Commissioner of the Canadian Section of the International Joint
Commission (IJC). By agreement among the Canadian Commissioners, Mr. Legault will
chair the Canadian Section, and co-chair the Commission as a whole with his U.S.
counterpart Thomas Baldini. His appointment will take effect March 10, 1997.
"The Government is determined to support and strengthen the IJC. This appointment
confirms this commitment, and will set a firm foundation for the IJC as it moves
toward the challenges of the next century," said Mr. Axworthy. "The IJC is an
important institution for managing the transboundary environmental relationship
between Canada and the United States. Mr. Legault will bring a wealth of insight
and experience to the IJC in precisely those areas that are the responsibility of
the Commission."
Mr. Legault has served for 35 years in Canada's diplomatic service. He joins the
IJC from his post at the Vatican as Canada's Ambassador to the Holy See. He has
extensive experience in Canada-U.S. relations and as an international jurist.
The IJC is a binational Canada-United States organization established by the
Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909. Canada and the United States each appoint three
Commissioners. The IJC has a long and distinguished record of helping to resolve
transboundary water and air management and quality issues, and has served the
interests of citizens well on both sides of the border.
The IJC has authority to issue Orders of Approval for the use, diversion or
obstruction of waters that flow along the boundary between Canada and the United
States and on certain rivers crossing the boundary, in cases where the natural
water levels or flows on the neighbouring side may be affected. The IJC has been
closely involved in key bilateral environmental questions, such as the quality of
water in the Great Lakes. This year Canada and the United States, along with the
IJC, will celebrate the 25th year of the Water Quality Agreement.
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A brief biographical note on Mr. Legault is attached.
For further information, media representatives may contact:
Catherine Lappe
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
(613) 995-1851
Media Relations Office
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
(613) 995-1874
This document is also available on the Department's Internet site:
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca
Biographical Note
LEONARD LEGAULT
Leonard Legault, QC, is a career diplomat. Among other assignments, he has served
as Senior Assistant Deputy Minister (United States) with the Department of Foreign
Affairs and International Trade (1990-93) and as Deputy Head of Mission and
Minister at the Canadian Embassy in Washington (1986-1990).
Mr. Legault has been a member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration and has been
deeply involved in international resource and fisheries management. Between 1982
and 1984 he served as Ambassador and Agent for Canada in the Gulf of Maine case
before the International Court of Justice. From 1995 to the present, he has
served as Canada's Ambassador and Head of the Canadian Delegation to the UN
Commission on Human Rights in Geneva, a post that has entailed close consultations
between government and non-governmental organizations.
Mr. Legault is an Officer of the Order of Canada. He is originally from
Gravelbourg, Saskatchewan.
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