11/06/2005 - The Honourable
Stéphane Dion, Minister of the Environment,
and the Honourable Pierre Pettigrew, Minister
of Foreign Affairs, today announced the International
Joint Commission (IJC) will have a significant
role in gathering input and educating the
public about the Great Lakes Water Quality
Agreement (GLWQA).
“The current review of the Great Lakes Water
Quality Agreement provides an opportunity
to ensure that the Agreement continues to
be a visionary statement that will guide not
only governments, but also members of the
Great Lakes community, in the continued protection
and restoration of the Great Lakes,” said
Minister Dion, before a forum of Great Lakes
managers and stakeholders at the IJC’s Biennial
Meeting in Kingston, Ontario. “The governments
of Canada and the U.S. are giving the International
Joint Commission an important role in the
review process by obtaining the public input
that is so crucial to the success of this
endeavour.”
“The International Joint Commission represents
a longstanding commitment by Canada and the
U.S. to work together in protecting the quality
of shared waters,” said
Pierre Pettigrew, Minister of Foreign Affairs
Canada, who transmitted the Canadian response
to the Commission. “Its institutional strength
and record of binational impartiality is vital
to Canada and the U.S. in the management of
their shared environment.”
The terms of the GLWQA require the governments
of Canada and the U.S. to undertake a comprehensive
review of the operation and effectiveness
of the Agreement following every third IJC
biennial report. This requirement was formally
triggered with the release of the IJC’s 12th
Biennial Report on September 13, 2004.
The IJC has been asked to report its findings
from these public input sessions to the two
governments by January 2006. Canada and the
U.S. will then proceed with their comprehensive
review of the Agreement.
