International Joint Commission to Examine Red River Flooding

Prime Minister Jean Chrétien today announced that Canada and the United States have agreed to task the International Joint Commission (IJC) to work on an urgent basis to recommend ways to deal with water management issues for the Red River Valley.

Following weekend discussions between the Prime Minister and US President Bill Clinton, as well as between Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy and Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, it was agreed that an international approach was needed to find long term solutions to the flooding which affected populations on both sides of the border. The Prime Minister noted that the fact that the two countries share the Red River basin necessitates close cooperation.

"President Clinton agrees with us that work should start as soon as possible," said Prime Minister Chrétien. "We agreed to ask the IJC to examine the causes and effects of flooding in the Red River basin and to come up with concrete proposals to diminish the risk of further repetitions of the flooding which has brought so much suffering to people on both sides of the border this year."

The decision to involve the IJC is in accord with the Canada/Manitoba agreement on Red River Valley flood disaster assistance signed on May 1, which calls for enhanced international cooperation. The Prime Minister has asked Mr. Axworthy, as Canadian Minister responsible for the IJC, to monitor this file closely.

The International Joint Commission will produce an interim report on possible measures by the end of 1997.

PMO Press Office: (613) 957-5555