What role does the federal government have with respect to international agreements related to water?
The federal government has the power to implement treaties concluded by the British Empire on Canada’s behalf. The International Boundary Waters Treaty Act, passed by the federal government, implements the 1909 Boundary Waters Treaty between the United States and Canada. The Treaty recognizes that each country may be affected by the other’s actions in the lake and river systems along their common border. Its purpose is to prevent and resolve disputes concerning these boundary waters. The Treaty also creates the International Joint Commission to prevent and resolve these disputes. The Commission is an independent advisor to both governments. It rules on applications for approval of projects affecting boundary and transboundary waters and may regulate the operation of these projects. In 1972, the governments of United States and Canada signed the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. This was superseded by a new agreement in 1978, which was amended in 1987. Its purpose is “to restore and
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