INTERNATIONAL JOINT COMMISSION Canadian Section Office 234 Laurier Avenue West, 22nd floor

INDIGENOUS COLLABORATION TEAM UPDATE Staff solicited further feedback and discussion from Commissioners on two proposals: the first being the approval of the approach and Guiding Principles for an Indigenous Circle of Experts, and the second being adjustments to the administration of the International Watersheds Initiative (IWI) to encourage greater collaboration between IJC boards and Indigenous. [...] Commissioners conditionally approved the extension of the 2023 Temporary Order, that allows the WLC to operate on the basis of a single rule curve for the 2024 freshet, removing the nomenclature of the high flood risk rule curve, once amendments are finalized by staff. [...] Commissioners encouraged the roll out of the Temporary Order to clearly communicate the changes being made to facilitate the public’s understanding of the matter. [...] PREPARATION FOR FALL SEMI-ANNUAL RECEPTION Staff provided Commissioners with the plan and schedule for the fall semi-annual week, including the board appearances, the preparation for meetings with governments, a Surface Water and Ocean Topography project presentation, the crisis communications workshop, the International Watersheds Initiative, a luncheon with the U. [...] b) Protection of the Waters of the Great Lakes - In September 2023, staff provided an overview of the 1999 Reference and subsequent IJC reports on consumptive uses, diversions and removals of water of the Great Lakes.