In recent months, two IJC commissioners were invited to speak at prominent events in Paris, France, and London, Ontario.
U.S. Section Chair Lana Pollack spoke on the history of the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909. Canadian Commission Gordon Walker spoke on how the Treaty has led to improved relations between Canada and the U.S. in relation to our shared waters.
In September, Pollack was hosted by the 4th World Congress on Agricultural and Rural Finance in Paris, France. Her expenses were covered by conference organizers.
U.S. Section Chair Lana Pollack speaks in Paris, France. Credit: CICA.
Pollack’s presentation, ”Water Without Borders: 104 years of U.S.-Canada Cooperation,” explored the importance of climate change, and managing the quality and quantity of fresh water.
“Now 104 years old, the Treaty and the Commission that it created continue to be tested. The Treaty is stronger today because it has a century of history and a number of science based successes in binational water quantity and water quality management. Its future will ultimately depend on strong public demand for sufficient and reliably clean freshwater.”
- Lana Pollack, U.S. Section Chair, Sept. 26, 2013.
You can read Pollack’s full presentation here.
In October, Walker was hosted by The Canada-United States Law Institute in London, Ontario, and presented their 7th annual distinguished lecture at Western University. Walker’s talk was titled “The Boundary Waters Treaty 1909 – a Peace Treaty?”
“Would there have been peace for all these years without the Boundary Waters Treaty and the International Joint Commission? Perhaps – but it must be remembered that more wars have been fought over borders than anything else, and sometimes even the most insignificant of issues becomes an irritant that can escalate to large proportions. It is not the friendly relations which led to the resolution of all these issues that have come and gone in the past century, but rather it is the resolution of all these issues that has led to friendly relations. The Boundary Waters Treaty was the instrument of peace; the IJC the vehicle by which it could be ensured.”
- Gordon Walker, Canadian Commissioner, Oct. 30, 2013.
You can read Walker’s full presentation here.
