The Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909 is perhaps the most important bilateral agreement in Canada-U.S. relations. Over the past century, it has provided a foundation for environmental cooperation and equality between the United States and Canada. Signed at a time when disagreement over the shared waterways could have divided the nations, the Boundary Waters Treaty established a binational tribunal, the International Joint Commission, to investigate, resolve and prevent boundary water disputes between the two countries.

Over the last 100 years, the Boundary Waters Treaty and the International Joint Commission have been fundamental in preventing and resolving boundary water disputes between Canada and the United States. The Treaty has also served as an archetype for multiple bilateral agreements between nations. However, in recent years, challenges for boundary water resources triggered a movement towards a more unilateral approach in dealing with international waterways.

Thus, the role of the Boundary Waters Treaty - today and in the future - must be examined.

This symposium, recognizing the 100-year anniversary of the 1909 Boundary Waters Treaty, will explore its history, its impact, and its continued relevance moving forward into the next century.