The International Joint Commission (IJC): an exploration of its fit as a binational commission
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Date
2024-06-24
Authors
Dion, Jay
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Abstract
The signing of the Boundary Waters Treaty (BWT) in 1909 between Canada and the United States established the International Joint Commission (IJC). The main responsibilities of the IJC are to evaluate projects that affect water level and flows across the borders, and to investigate transboundary issues and provide possible solutions. One of the main attributes of the IJC is that, in theory, it is binational. A binational agreement means that Canada and the United States work together on common issues rather than on separate problems along national preferences. The IJC has been studied by many scholars, however, they mainly focus on its history, functions, and activities. A weakness in the literature is the lack of attention to the commission and binational nature of IJC. It is generally assumed that the IJC is a binational commission without evaluating whether or not it meets the requirements of a binational commission. To investigate this gap in the literature, this thesis asks: is the IJC truly a binational joint commission?
To assess the question, this thesis draws on existing literature to analyze the characteristics of the IJC and employs two case studies: the Zosel Dam applications and the Garrison Diversion Unit (GDU) reference which provides a good test of the IJC’s commission and binational status. Ultimately, this thesis concludes that the IJC is indeed a binational commission.
Given that environmental and economic uncertainties are growing in the world and even allies, American and Canadian policy analysts and decision-makers should look to the IJC’s binational mechanisms to develop mutually acceptable solutions to water border issues.
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Keywords
The International Joint Commission, IJC, The Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909, Binationalism, Commissions, Canada-US water management