International Joint Commission

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Last updated

June 18, 2026

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The International Joint Commission (IJC) was established by the International Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909 between the United States and Canada. Its primary purpose is to prevent disputes and settle questions concerning boundary waters between the two countries.1

The IJC oversees issues related to fishing rights, water diversion and use, shipping, dam and bridge construction, and water pollution in shared waters. It has jurisdiction over bodies of water such as the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence Seaway, among others. The commission holds annual meetings and maintains headquarters in both Ottawa and Washington, D.C..1

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canals and inland waterways
Administration
-Canadian International Joint Commission has functioned since 1909 with general authority over the boundary waters. The St. Lawrence Seaway is a joint project administered by the St. Lawrence Seaway Authority (now the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation) in Canada and the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway…
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-Canadian International Joint Commission has functioned since 1909 with general authority over the boundary waters. The St. Lawrence Seaway is a joint project administered by the St. Lawrence Seaway Authority (now the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation) in Canada and the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway…
Read More