Mandate

Approved October 15, 2005

The Health Professionals Task Force are health professionals who maintain a current expertise in clinical and public health issues in environmental health and transboundary health issues, with expertise pertinent to human exposure to toxic substances in the environment.

Specific responsibilities of the Health Professionals Task Force include assisting the Commission and its boards in:

• providing advice and information on current Great Lakes and transboundary environmental human health science and public health policy pursuant to the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909;
• undertakings to support the understanding of emerging Great Lakes and transboundary environmental health issues; and
• promoting outreach and education on current Great Lakes and transboundary environmental health issues to health professionals and the public.

Meetings:

The Task Force membership will meet at least twice in a calendar year. It will report at least annually to the Commission at an IJC semi-annual meeting.

Membership:

1. The members of the Health Professionals Task Force are to be appointed by the Commission from a broad spectrum of clinical and public health professionals, including those actively involved in the training of health professionals. Members will be selected so that the Task Force is knowledgeable about environmental health issues along the full U.S. - Canada border.
2. The Health Professionals Task Force will consist of 5 to 6 members from the United States and 5 to 6 members from Canada who will serve in their personal and professional capacities.
3. One member shall serve as a liaison with the Great Lakes Science Advisory Board and one member should serve as a liaison to the International Air Quality Advisory Board. The liaison’s principle duties will be a point of contact for the exchange of information, participating in conference calls, meetings where appropriate, and email exchanges.
4. Members will be appointed for terms of three years. Initial memberships shall be for 1, 2, or 3 years so that the terms of all members do not expire at the same time. Members may be re-appointed. Members shall participate in at least one meeting per year.
5. The Commission will appoint one member from the United States and one member from Canada to be co-chairs of the task force. The co-chairs shall ensure that all members of the task force are informed of all instructions and inquiries from the Commission and of activities undertaken by or on behalf of the task force.
6. The co-chairs, after consulting the members of the task force, may appoint a Secretary who shall carry out such duties as are assigned by the co-chairs or by the task force as a whole.
7. The co-chairs and the Secretary shall keep the Commission currently informed of the task force’s plans and work, and shall inform the Secretaries of the Commission in advance of plans for any meetings or other means of involving or informing the public.

Time Line

The Health Professionals Task Force will be sunset five years after its initial meeting unless extended by the Commission.

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