Latest news with #BoundaryWatersTreaty
Malaysian Reserve
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Malaysian Reserve
IJC Spring Semi-Annual Meeting Focuses on Ensuring Healthy, Safe and Prosperous Transboundary Watersheds
WASHINGTON, May 22, 2025 /CNW/ — The International Joint Commission (IJC) held its spring semi-annual meeting from April 28-May 2, in Washington, D.C. The event convened Commissioners, staff, board and committee members to discuss ongoing work, challenges and opportunities. 'In these challenging times, the work that we do to preserve and protect our boundary waters and resolve disputes between Canada and the United States is more important than ever,' IJC US Co-Chair Gerald Acker said. During the week-long meeting, the Commissioners met with the many IJC boards and committees. Updates included board expansions and new membership, ongoing and completed computer modeling of hydrological systems, infrastructure work being undertaken by outside agencies and organizations, and work being planned for the coming months. Commissioners also formally met with representatives from the Canadian and US governments, providing updates on current and forecasted conditions across transboundary watersheds. Governments received information on board activities, the IJC's ongoing studies, including the progress of those in the Elk-Kootenai/y River basin, St. Mary and Milk River basin, Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River, and the Poplar River basin. Commissioners also updated governments on the IJC's Circle of Experts initiative, which brings together Indigenous experts from across the transboundary region to discuss how the IJC can best work with them on water governance issues to the mutual benefit of these communities and the Commission's duties. Additionally, Commissioners were graciously hosted by the Canadian Embassy for lunch Tuesday, April 29, and were very pleased to welcome guests and interested parties to a reception at the Harry S. Truman Building on April 30. The next semi-annual meeting is scheduled for Fall 2025 in Ottawa, Ontario. Commissioners are looking forward to continuing their cross-border efforts to resolve problems and work together into the future. 'We're looking forward to continuing to fulfill the duties of the Boundary Waters Treaty with our colleagues in both Canada and the United States,' said Canadian Co-Chair Pierre Baril. Quick Facts Each board has its own responsibilities, public engagement efforts, and opportunities for involvement detailed on their respective websites: The IJC is a binational body established by the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909 to help the governments of Canada and the United States prevent and resolve disputes over use of the waters shared by the two countries. Contact: Cara Prest Canadian Section 613-293-7226 Ed Virden US Section 202-372-7990
Cision Canada
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Cision Canada
IJC Spring Semi-Annual Meeting Focuses on Ensuring Healthy, Safe and Prosperous Transboundary Watersheds
WASHINGTON, May 22, 2025 /CNW/ -- The International Joint Commission (IJC) held its spring semi-annual meeting from April 28-May 2, in Washington, D.C. The event convened Commissioners, staff, board and committee members to discuss ongoing work, challenges and opportunities. "In these challenging times, the work that we do to preserve and protect our boundary waters and resolve disputes between Canada and the United States is more important than ever," IJC US Co-Chair Gerald Acker said. During the week-long meeting, the Commissioners met with the many IJC boards and committees. Updates included board expansions and new membership, ongoing and completed computer modeling of hydrological systems, infrastructure work being undertaken by outside agencies and organizations, and work being planned for the coming months. Commissioners also formally met with representatives from the Canadian and US governments, providing updates on current and forecasted conditions across transboundary watersheds. Governments received information on board activities, the IJC's ongoing studies, including the progress of those in the Elk-Kootenai/y River basin, St. Mary and Milk River basin, Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River, and the Poplar River basin. Commissioners also updated governments on the IJC's Circle of Experts initiative, which brings together Indigenous experts from across the transboundary region to discuss how the IJC can best work with them on water governance issues to the mutual benefit of these communities and the Commission's duties. Additionally, Commissioners were graciously hosted by the Canadian Embassy for lunch Tuesday, April 29, and were very pleased to welcome guests and interested parties to a reception at the Harry S. Truman Building on April 30. The next semi-annual meeting is scheduled for Fall 2025 in Ottawa, Ontario. Commissioners are looking forward to continuing their cross-border efforts to resolve problems and work together into the future. "We're looking forward to continuing to fulfill the duties of the Boundary Waters Treaty with our colleagues in both Canada and the United States," said Canadian Co-Chair Pierre Baril. Quick Facts
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
IJC Spring Semi-Annual Meeting Focuses on Ensuring Healthy, Safe and Prosperous Transboundary Watersheds
WASHINGTON, May 22, 2025 /CNW/ -- The International Joint Commission (IJC) held its spring semi-annual meeting from April 28-May 2, in Washington, D.C. The event convened Commissioners, staff, board and committee members to discuss ongoing work, challenges and opportunities. "In these challenging times, the work that we do to preserve and protect our boundary waters and resolve disputes between Canada and the United States is more important than ever," IJC US Co-Chair Gerald Acker said. During the week-long meeting, the Commissioners met with the many IJC boards and committees. Updates included board expansions and new membership, ongoing and completed computer modeling of hydrological systems, infrastructure work being undertaken by outside agencies and organizations, and work being planned for the coming months. Commissioners also formally met with representatives from the Canadian and US governments, providing updates on current and forecasted conditions across transboundary watersheds. Governments received information on board activities, the IJC's ongoing studies, including the progress of those in the Elk-Kootenai/y River basin, St. Mary and Milk River basin, Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River, and the Poplar River basin. Commissioners also updated governments on the IJC's Circle of Experts initiative, which brings together Indigenous experts from across the transboundary region to discuss how the IJC can best work with them on water governance issues to the mutual benefit of these communities and the Commission's duties. Additionally, Commissioners were graciously hosted by the Canadian Embassy for lunch Tuesday, April 29, and were very pleased to welcome guests and interested parties to a reception at the Harry S. Truman Building on April 30. The next semi-annual meeting is scheduled for Fall 2025 in Ottawa, Ontario. Commissioners are looking forward to continuing their cross-border efforts to resolve problems and work together into the future. "We're looking forward to continuing to fulfill the duties of the Boundary Waters Treaty with our colleagues in both Canada and the United States," said Canadian Co-Chair Pierre Baril. Quick Facts Each board has its own responsibilities, public engagement efforts, and opportunities for involvement detailed on their respective websites: The IJC is a binational body established by the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909 to help the governments of Canada and the United States prevent and resolve disputes over use of the waters shared by the two Cara Prest Canadian Section 613-293-7226Ed Virden US Section 202-372-7990 View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE International Joint Commission View original content to download multimedia:
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
International inquiry details plan to investigate severe, long-standing water pollution: 'We're really in a historic time right now'
Coal mines in southeastern British Columbia have been polluting waterways in the U.S. and Canada for decades, but a new international inquiry is investigating the issue and seeking solutions, The Narwhal reported. Contaminants from these mining operations, such as selenium, have seeped into local waterways, moving downstream into the Elk and Kootenay rivers, the publication explained. These rivers flow through Ktunaxa Nation territory in British Columbia, Montana, and Idaho. According to the new proposed plan from the International Joint Commission, a regulatory group established under the 1909 Boundary Waters Treaty, an expert panel will compile existing data on water quality and impacts to human and ecosystem health and look at potential solutions to reduce the flow of pollution from the mines. The commission has already established a study board and is looking to create four technical working groups focusing on water quality, human health, ecosystem, and mitigation. "Historically, we've allowed industry to set the tone on what should be done and how quickly it should be done," Simon Wiebe, a mining policy and impacts researcher for the Kootenay-based conservation group Wildsight, told The Narwhal. "So, we're really in a historic time right now where we're getting a third-party, independent review of these issues." The Narwhal reported that while all living things need small amounts of selenium, too much of this element can be toxic. For instance, small amounts of selenium in fish have been tied to deformities and reproductive failure. The publication pointed out that this is of particular concern for at-risk fish species living downstream from the mine such as the westslope cutthroat trout, burbot, and white sturgeon. Meanwhile, mining contamination is just one of many threats to our waterways. For instance, one study found that tiny microplastics are more common in our seas than what was once believed. Plus, oil and gas spills are a threat to many water bodies such as the Peruvian Amazon. One important way to reduce the impacts of coal mining is to reduce our dependence on this planet-heating fuel in favor of more modern technology that is safer for both humans and animals. For instance, towns in rural Virginia are adding over 1 million new jobs by focusing on solar energy instead of coal. And a West Virginia town that has historically relied on coal is transitioning to clean energy. How often do you worry about the quality of your drinking water? Never Sometimes Often Always Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. You can help out by taking actions like enrolling in community solar or installing rooftop panels. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
CBC
17-02-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Could ending the water treaty help Canada fight U.S. tariffs?
The six-decade-old Boundary Waters Treaty between the U.S. and Canada governs the use of one of North America's largest rivers, the Columbia, with provisions that provide for effective flood control, irrigation, and hydropower generation and sharing between the countries. As U.S. President Donald Trump threatens to impose punishing tariffs on Canadian products and electricity, calls to end the water treaty are getting louder.
