Commentary: Persistent Toxic Substances Across the Canada-United States Border: The International Joint Commission and the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement

Abstract

The International Joint Commission was established by the 1909 Boundary Waters Treaty to assist the governments of the US and Canada in preventing and resolving disputes along their border. Since the signing of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement in 1972, the Commission and the two governments have had significant experience—from scientific, managerial, and public involvement perspectives—dealing with the problem of toxic chemicals in the Great Lakes Ecosystem. This paper examines the recommendations proposed by the Commission concerning persistent toxic substances. The author then identifies six fundamental dilemmas that society must face in dealing with persistent and bioaccumulative chemicals. These are: (1) the use of science in the debate on toxics, (2) how economics is factored into decisions about toxics, (3) long term costs versus short term economic and social values, (4) the concept of reverse onus, (5) social discontinuity as change occurs, and (6) the political will of governments. While the US and Canada have made progress in diminishing the quantities of the most egregious pollutants, there is still significant work to be done in the Great Lakes region, as well as in other areas along the Canada-US border and throughout the world.