Turn off accessible linear format and redisplay the web page in it's original layout. ACROSS BORDERS: EVOLUTION OF CONCERN AND CARE
| INTERNATIONAL JOINT COMMISSION |
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Many rivers and some of the largest lakes in the world, the Great Lakes, lie along, or flow across, the border between Canada and the United States. The International Joint Commission assists governments in finding solutions to problems in these waters. Established by the 1909 Boundary Waters Treaty, the Commission has six members, three appointed by the Prime Minister of Canada and three appointed by the President of the United States. Canada and the United States created the Commission because they wanted to work together to care for the lakes and river systems along their borders. Today, the two countries cooperate to manage these waters wisely and to protect them for the benefit of today's citizens and for future generations. |
1909: BOUNDARY WATERS TREATY
The Governments of Canada and the United States got together in 1909 to set up protection for their boundary waters, including the Great Lakes. Both countries signed the Boundary Waters Treaty. This treaty established the International Joint Commission (IJC) to help resolve boundary issues along the Canada-U.S. border, including trans-boundary pollution.
1972 AND 1978: GREAT LAKES WATER QUALITY AGREEMENT
In 1972, Canada and the United States signed the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement as a first step to protect and clean up the Great Lakes. In 1978, the two countries signed a new Agreement, putting greater emphasis on efforts to clean up toxic substances and on using an ecosystem approach to managing the Great Lakes.
1987: AMENDMENT TO GREAT LAKES WATER QUALITY AGREEMENT
In 1987, the two nations added a new protocol to the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. They agreed to develop and implement Remedial Action Plans (RAPs) for badly polluted areas in the Great Lakes basin. Contaminants already had affected these areas as shown by the diseases and impaired health of aquatic and wildlife species in those areas, and had restricted how humans could use the Great Lakes. For example: no swimming at beaches.
1994: CANADA-ONTARIO AGREEMENT RESPECTING THE GREAT LAKES BASIN ECOSYSTEM
In Canada, Great Lakes water quality is a shared provincial and federal responsibility. Environment Canada and the Ontario Ministry of Environment and Energy are working together to develop the RAPs: plans to clean up specific areas. In July 1994, the governments of Canada and Ontario signed a major agreement that listed what they would do together to restore, protect and conserve the Great Lakes basin ecosystem.
