Rob de Loë Appointed Great Lakes Water Quality Board Co-Chair

The International Joint Commission (IJC) announced Monday that Professor Rob de Loë has been appointed Canadian Co-Chair of the Great Lakes Water Quality Board. The IJC is a binational organization established by Canada and the United States to prevent and resolve disputes about the use and quality of boundary waters, and to advise respective governments on water resources issues. 

Dr. de Loë, Professor in the Department of Environment and Resource Studies and member of the Water Institute, is one of Canada’s leading academics in water governance and policy. The Water Quality Board is the principal advisor to the IJC in reviewing and assessing progress in implementation of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, and in identifying emerging issues and approaches for preventing and resolving the complex challenges facing the Great Lakes. 

Waterloo’s Faculty of Environment, and the broader Water Institute membership, has a strong tradition in researching Great Lakes issues. Professor de Loë looks forward to the new challenge, noting “the Great Lakes represent an enormous opportunity and challenge for governments, researchers, businesses and communities to sustainably manage one of the world’s greatest freshwater resources. I am honoured to be appointed Canadian Co-Chair, and look forward to working with this new Board to improve water quality in the Great Lakes”.

The Hon. Benoit Bouchard, Canadian Commissioner to the IJC added “We were pleased to receive the nominations of many worthy candidates from across the geographical breadth of the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence System, and are delighted that Dr. de Loë has agreed to co-lead this important Board”.