Approved April 10, 2008

MINUTES

INTERNATIONAL JOINT COMMISSION
EXECUTIVE MEETING
February 5 – 6, 2008

The International Joint Commission met in Executive Session at the Canadian Section office in Ottawa, Ontario on February 5 – 6, 2008 with Herb Gray in the chair.

1. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

   The Commission approved the agenda.

2. IJC CENTENNIAL

   The Commission received an update on meetings and site visits to discuss the proposed Centennial celebration events to be held in the cross-border Niagara region in June 2009 and approved a broad outline of events including: a "Centennial Re-commitment" celebration on Saturday June 13, 2009; moving the IJC June 2009 Executive meeting to Niagara Falls from Windsor; launching the Biennial State of the Niagara River Conference; encouraging and assisting IJC Boards in organizing simultaneous events to be held across the country in all basins the IHC is active in; promoting the concept of coats to coats "light bridge" celebrations to be held in transboundary water border communities; preparing a joint announcement about the events with the U.S. and Canadian Consulate Generals, the Niagara region Mayors and other agency, industrial and academic stakeholders from the area; Commissioners meeting with the heads of the U.S. and Canadian Tourism Agencies as soon as possible; inviting all current and former Prime Ministers and Presidents and all former IJC Commissioners to participate in the event; raising the plans with the U.S. and Canadian Ambassadors; and formation of an IJC staff planning team from the three IJC offices.

3. LAKE ONTARIO – ST. LAWRENCE RIVER STUDY (LOSLR)

   The Commission reviewed all documents intended for public release noting comments from Commissioners, advisers and government officials and approved a final communications package (subject to final edits and review by Commissioners and the copy editor) scheduled for release on March 31, 2008 as well as a series of public hearings in June 2008.

4. 2009 GREAT LAKES WATER QUALITY AGREEMENT BIENNIAL MEETING

   Commissioners discussed plans for the next Biennial meeting and approved the dates and main location as October 6 – 7, 2009 in Windsor (Cleary Auditorium) as well as contacting other local facilities and hotels for meeting and accommodation space, and directed staff to organize a press conference in Windsor on March 10 or 11 to announce this information.

5. GOVERNMENTS' GREAT LAKES WATER QUALITY AGREEMENT REVIEW

   Commissioners received a status report on the governments' review of the GLWQA and approved a draft Commission letter to the Parties subject to final edits.

6. 15^th BIENNIAL REPORT ON GREAT LAKES WATER QUALITY

   The Commission discussed options for preparing this Report, confirmed their preference to do an assessment of progress under the GLWQA, and directed staff to move forward with planning for the report as well as the 2009 Biennial Meeting consistent with this approach.

7. SCIENCE ADVISORY BOARD (SAB) PRIORITIES REPORT

   Commissioners discussed the SAB Report summarizing their work on the Commission's 2005-2007 priorities and approved a draft letter to the SAB Co-chairs from Commissioners.

8. STATE OF THE STRAIT CONFERENCE

   Commissioners discussed the history of Commission involvement in these conferences and approved organizing a public forum on the state of the Detroit River in late spring or early summer 2008 in the Detroit/Windsor area, possibly in conjunction with one of the GLWQA Board's Area of Concern consultations.

9. ST. MARY AND MILK RIVERS

   Commissioners received an oral update noting that while the setting-up of meetings between Montana and Alberta was not progressing as quickly as hoped, things were moving in a positive direction.

10. INTERNATIONAL WATERSHED INITIATIVE (IWI)

    Commissioners noted good progress in priority basins (Red, Osoyoos, and St. Croix); preparations for the March 2008 workshop in Vancouver; the GIS data and map harmonization efforts (i.e., approved work plans, setting up of a Task Force and preparing a letter to Ministers in the key departments); the enhanced coverage of the IWI on the Commission's website; and endorsed organizing a session on Transboundary Data Harmonization at the 2009 Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) Conference to promote these IJC efforts and the centennial.

11. OSOYOOS LAKE

    The Commission received a report on follow-up to the September 2007 Osoyoos Science Forum and approved several matters related to implementation of the Plan of Study including: contracting for study management and coordination rather than having current Board members or IJC advisers perform this role; exploring the addition of local members to the current Board; exploring the cost of a professional video interview with Web Hallauer; and contributing $5000 Cdn towards the cost of the Proceedings of the "One Watershed. One Water" conference in Kelowna, B.C. in October 2008 co-organized by the Canadian Water Resources Association and the Okanagan Basin Water Board.

12. OTHER BUSINESS

    Presentation by Dr. Zafar Adeel, Director of the United Nations University - International Network on Water, Environment & Health (UNU-INWEH)

    Commissioners received a briefing from Dr. Adeel on the possible engagement of the Commission in the "Regional Dialogue and Twinning to Improve Transboundary Water Resources Governance in Africa" project being funded by the Global Environmental Facility and agreed to provide expertise and in-kind support.

13. Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative (GLSLCI)

    Commissioners approved draft replies to Mayors Becker and Peterson as well as Mayor Miller concerning the resolution passed at the most recent meeting of the GLSLCI urging that the Commission's Upper Great Lakes Study proceed with a sense of urgency.

14. The Nature Conservancy

    Commissioners approved a draft reply to Stephanie Meeks of the Nature Conservancy, on behalf of sixteen environmental organizations, urging the Commission to propose Plan B+ for public consideration in relation to its LOSLR deliberations.

15. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)

    Commissioners noted the delay in the previously scheduled and expected joint release of the ATSDR report on Public Health Implications of Great Lakes Areas of Concern and the recent media interest in this report and approved an approach to respond to any inquiries.

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