Activities

Citizen Advisory Group Terms of Reference

Background

The Governments of Canada and the United States, in letters to the International Joint Commission (IJC) dated June 17, 2010, requested that the IJC review and make recommendations regarding the bi-national management of the Lake of the Woods and Rainy River Basin and the IJC’s potential role in this management. Recommendations are to address potential structures and mechanisms for governance as well as priority issues or activities to be addressed by or through such mechanisms. A Task Force has been established by the IJC to assist it in responding to the governments’ request. Given the required focus on outreach and public discussions with government agencies, tribes, First Nations and the general public, as part of this Reference and Directive, the Task Force is establishing a Citizen Advisory Group (CAG).

Purpose of the CAG

The CAG will serve as a sounding board for the Task Force on matters related to fulfilling its mandate. The CAG will review the Task Force draft reports and provide recommendations to the Task Force regarding potential structures and mechanisms for governance, priority issues or activities. It is the intention of the Task Force to establish a CAG that has representation from all sectors and from all reaches of the watershed, which extends from the mouth of the Pigeon River in the east to the outlet of Lake of the Woods into the Winnipeg River in the west.

Expectations of CAG members

Members will be expected to participate in:

  • One introductory teleconference call
  • Up to three meetings in the basin (week of October 25-29, 2010; mid-March 2011; late May/early June, 2011); meetings will be held in Canada and U.S. and members are asked to choose the closest meeting location
  • One preparatory call prior to each meeting to allow the Task Force to introduce the product for discussion and allow time for review by CAG
  • Three optional post-meeting calls to review any issues

CAG meetings will be organized and facilitated by the Task Force, but it is not the intention of the Task Force to “run” these meetings – they are meetings of the CAG to provide constructive feedback to the Task Force and to discuss new issues or concerns. The Task Force will also take meeting notes.

CAG meetings will be open to all interested stakeholders as observers. Time will be allotted for comment/input from attending observers at the end of these meetings.

Membership on the CAG

Membership on the CAG will be open to all stakeholders including full or part-time residents, members of First Nations and tribes, NGOs, business and industry from both Canada and the U.S. within the geographic scope of the mandate (i.e., watershed).

Interested parties are to submit an Expression of Interest to be part of the CAG. Submissions must include:

  • Description of why individual/group would like to serve on the CAG
  • Overview of individual’s/group’s connection to the watershed
  • Contact information (name, mailing address, email address, telephone number, and fax number if appropriate)

Expressions of interest can be sent to:

Canadian Section – Kelli Saunders, Task Force Co-Secretary, c/o Ministry of the Environment P.O. Box 5150, 808 Robertson Street, Kenora, ON P9N 3X9; fax (807)468-2735 or email at kelli.saunders@ontario.ca .

U.S. Section - Lisa Bourget, Task Force Co-Secretary, 808 Carmichael Road #200, Hudson, WI 54016; fax (715)386-2121 or email at elizabeth.c.bourget@usace.army.mil.

Remuneration of CAG members

All meeting space rentals and teleconference charges will be arranged and covered by the Task Force. Transportation to meetings and any accommodations/meals will be the responsibility of individual CAG members.

Tenure of the CAG

Membership on the CAG will commence upon notification of invitation to participate (early October) and will continue until the completion of the Reference mandate (no later than December 2011).