International Joint Commission  [Printer-friendly version]
October 05, 2005

YOU CAN SUPPORT PRECAUTIONARY ACTION FOR THE GREAT LAKES

The International Joint Commission Invites Your Views at 14 Public
Meetings and a Web Dialog on the Future of the Great Lakes Water
Quality Agreement.

[Rachel's introduction: The U.S. and Canada are now reviewing the
Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement and will hold 14 public meetings
and a Web Dialog this month and next. This is a great opportunity to
embed precautionary thinking even more deeply into the restoration
and protection of the Great Lakes.]

The governments of the United States and Canada have asked the
International Joint Commission (IJC) to consult with the residents of
the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River basin to find out their views
on what needs to be done to protect water quality in their area, and
on the future of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement.

First signed in 1972 and last amended nearly 20 years ago, the Water
Quality Agreement outlines the commitment of each country to restore
and maintain the chemical, physical and biological integrity of the
waters of the Great Lakes basin ecosystem, including the international
portion of the St. Lawrence River.

In the Agreement, the two governments commit to virtually eliminate
the input of persistent toxic substances. It has also resulted in
cooperation between the United States and Canada to limit the
discharge of nutrients and toxic substances into the waters, restore
degraded areas and undertake other joint activities designed to
improve water quality.

The governments intend to launch a review of the operation and
effectiveness of the Agreement in early 2006. The guidelines for the
review process specify that a precautionary approach will be taken.
(See story in this issue of Rachel's Precaution Reporter.)

The International Joint Commission will hold 14 public meetings across
the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River basin, conduct a Web Dialogue
and accept written and oral submissions until November 30. For more
information, call toll-free at 1-866- 813-0642 or check the IJC's web
site.

Schedule of public meetings:

** Monday, October 17 at 7 p.m. in Montreal, Quebec, at City Hall, 275
Notre-Dame Street East

** Monday, October 24 at 7 p.m. in Duluth, Minnesota, at the Central
Hillside Community Center, 12 East 4th Street

** Tuesday, October 25 at 7 p.m. in Thunder Bay, Ontario, at City
Hall, 500 Donald Street East

** Thursday, October 27 at 7 p.m. in Sault Ste Marie, Ontario, in the
City Council Chamber at the Civic Centre, 99 Foster Drive

** Tuesday, November 1 at 7 p.m. in Bay City, Michigan, at City Hall,
301 Washington Avenue

** Tuesday, November 1 at 7 p.m. in Green Bay, Wisconsin, at the KI
Convention Center, 333 Main Street

** Wednesday, November 2 at 7 p.m. in Chicago, Illinois, in the Phelps
Auditorium at the Shedd Aquarium, 1200 South Lake Shore Drive

** Wednesday, November 2 at 3 p.m. in Detroit, Michigan, at the
Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce, One Woodward Avenue, Suite 1900

** Wednesday, November 2 at 7 p.m. in Windsor, Ontario, at the Cleary
International Centre, 201 Riverside Drive West

** Thursday, November 3, at 7 p.m. in Cleveland, Ohio, in the Rotunda
of City Hall, 601 Lakeside Avenue

** Tuesday, November 8 at 7 p.m. in Quebec City, Quebec, at City Hall,
2 rue des Jardins

** Tuesday, November 8 at 7 p.m. in Midland, Ontario, in the Council
Chamber at the Municipal Building, 575 Dominion Avenue

** Wednesday, November 9 at 7 p.m. in Toronto, Ontario, at City Hall,
100 Queen Street West.

** Thursday, November 10 at 7:30 p.m. in Rochester, New York, in the
City Council Chambers at City Hall, 30 Church Street

Can't Attend? You can contribute online.

Or call toll-free 1-866-813-0642

Fax (613) 993-5583

Or write:

International Joint Commission
Great Lakes Regional Office (Canada)
100 Ouellette Ave., 8th Floor
Windsor, ON N9A 6T3

In the United States
P.O. Box 32869
Detroit, MI 48232

The deadline for comments is midnight, November 30, 2005