Governance Body

As part of the March 8, 2024, request to the IJC from the Governments of Canada and the United States, in partnership with the Ktunaxa Nation, the IJC was asked to assist the six named governments in developing a Terms of Reference (TOR) for the Governance Body by June 30, 2024. These governments reached consensus on the TOR establishing the Governance Body, with the IJC designated as secretariat, in late June 2024. The TOR will be effective when all governments have approved. The TOR will be published  here once approved by all governments.  

 

The Governance Body had its first virtual meeting on August 20, 2024, and serves as the governments’ collaborative forum intended to ensure more timely action to reduce and mitigate the impacts of water pollution in the Kootenai/y watershed in order to protect the people and species that depend on this vital river system. The Commission serves as the Secretariat for the Governance Body.  

 

Over two years (ending in summer 2026) the Governance Body will:  

  • review reports and recommendations from the Study Board 
  • identify and recommend actions and resources needed to fill priority data, monitoring, research and reporting needs 
  • identify complementary and non-duplicative opportunities, supported by science and Indigenous knowledge, to reduce and mitigate the impacts of water pollution and protect the people and species in the Kootenai/y watershed 
  • develop an action plan to reduce and mitigate the impacts of water pollution in the Kootenai/y watershed in order to protect the people and species that depend on this vital river system; and  
  • report on progress toward implementing these objectives. 

Canada and the United States expect the Governance Body to respect the respective legal responsibilities and jurisdictions of each Government. 

You can see the list of members here.