Former Northern Ontario MP appointed as water-keeper

NEWS RELEASE

FOREIGN AFFAIRS CANADA

************************* Appointment to International Joint Commission

The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, minister of foreign affairs, today announced the appointment of the Honourable Joseph Comuzzi as the new full-time Canadian commissioner of the International Joint Commission (IJC).

“Mr. Comuzzi’s experience as chair of numerous House of Commons committees relating to Canada-U.S. relations will be an asset to the commission,” said Minister Cannon. “His knowledge of boundary water issues will greatly contribute to the commission’s work.”

The IJC is an independent, binational organization established by the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909.

It provides the mechanisms to help prevent and resolve disputes primarily about water quantity and quality along the boundary between Canada and the United States.

Joseph Comuzzi (BA, University of Windsor, 1954; LLB, University of Windsor, 1980) served six terms as member of Parliament for Thunder Bay-Nipigon (subsequently Thunder Bay-Superior North).

He chaired numerous committees, including the Standing Committee on Transport, the Subcommittee on the St. Lawrence Seaway, the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group, and the Cabinet Committee on Canada-U.S. relations.

Mr. Comuzzi also served as minister of state (Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario).

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