November/December 1998
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November/December 1998 |
by Frank Bevacqua
At the beginning of this century, there was great interest in finding ways to resolve disputes over irrigation and other uses of the waters shared by Canada and the United States. The two countries also wanted to remain good neighbors and prevent disputes as these water resources were further developed.
Following much negotiation, the Boundary Waters Treaty was signed January 11, 1909. The treaty established forthright principles for using the shared waters and mechanisms for preventing and resolving disputes.
One of these principles is that both countries would be involved in approving further uses, obstructions or diversions of boundary waters that would raise the natural level or flow across the boundary. Unless otherwise provided by a special agreement between the countries, the International Joint Commission, which was established by treaty, is to approve such projects. The two countries also kept the option to approve such projects through agreements that they would negotiate directly.
The willingness of the two countries to cast aside parochial interests and give such responsibilities to a binational body was unheard of at the time and remains unique today.
The treaty has also been hailed as the first binational environmental agreement. The negotiators wanted to address problems such as cholera and typhoid outbreaks that resulted from water pollution and they included language in the treaty stating that waters flowing along or across the boundary "shall not be polluted on either side to the injury of health or property on the other."
This clear commitment has led to many efforts to restore the health of the waters shared by the United States and Canada, including more detailed agreements such as the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement of 1972.
Given the complexity of the issues our two countries have faced, it is remarkable that the principles and mechanisms remain sound and workable today. Look for more articles in Focus about the Boundary Waters Treaty as we mark its 90th anniversary in 1999.
Les États-Unis et le Canada célèbrent 90 années de coopération en vertu du Traité des eaux limitrophes
Au début du siècle, on était à la recherche de façons de régler les différends concernant l'irrigation et les autres utilisations des eaux communes au Canada et aux États-Unis. Après beaucoup de négociations, était signé, le 11 janvier 1909, le Traité des eaux limitrophes, ui établissait des principes simples régissant l'utilisation de ces eaux et les mécanismes de prévention et de règlement des différends.
Cet engagement clair a suscité de nombreux efforts visant à restaurer la santé des eaux communes aux deux pays, avec des mécanismes plus complets tels que l'Accord de 1972 relatif à la qualité de l'eau dans les Grands Lacs.
Vu la complexité des enjeux auxquels faisaient face les deux pays, il est remarquable que, aujourd'hui encore, les principes et les mécanismes restent fonctionnels et solides. Dans Focus, voyez d'autres articles sur le Traité, dont nous célébrerons l'année prochaine le 90e anniversaire.