Information and Data Management
IJC Recommendation
"The Parties should develop and maintain the full range
of monitoring and surveillance programs necessary to enable them to fulfill
their commitments under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement.
The Parties should provide adequate access to data while
protecting confidentiality agreements and waiving cost recovery policies
that contradict the intent of Article IX of the Great Lakes Water Quality
Agreement.
The Parties should correct existing problems with the collection,
analyses and reporting of data, including establishing sampling protocols,
filling data gaps and ensuring the quality of data.
The Parties should, within two years, develop and implement
a binational information policy employing advanced technology to support
implementation of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. This policy
should include provision for:
(i) accessibility of data and information,
(ii) organization and management of data bases,
(iii) protocols to ensure compatibility and comparability
of data for weight of evidence and ecosystem integrity analysis,
(iv) support of indicator development, and particularly
indicators that support the goals of drinkability, swimmability, and edibility
of fish, and
(v) principles for evaluating information for decision-making."
Response to Recommendation
The Government of Canada acknowledges the essential role of monitoring
and surveillance programs in fulfilling its commitments under the GLWQA.
Canada, in concert with the relevant provincial and U.S. agencies, is
determined to continue pursuing mechanisms to optimize and streamline
Great Lakes monitoring and surveillance activities to derive maximum benefits
from available resources. The Canadian and Ontario governments are committed,
under a renegotiated COA, to set up federal-provincial mechanisms to ensure
the development, coordination, and maintenance of the required monitoring
and surveillance programs necessary to fulfill Canada's commitment under
the GLWQA.
Canada provides, upon request and at no cost, Great Lakes water quality
program data directly to the IJC Regional Office, as per Article IX of
the Agreement.
The Government of Canada is also committed to the collection of valid,
good quality data and the timely analysis and reporting of the collected
information. Canada is committed to following the best management practices
that are appropriate to the program needs and consistent with international
standards, in the operation and management of its analytical laboratories.
For example, all the water quality data generated by the operational laboratories
of Environment Canada meet international standards of accreditation (ISO
Guide 25, Canadian Standard CAN/CSA-Z753-95) granted through the Standards
Council of Canada. In addition, the Environment Canada National Laboratory
for Environmental Testing (NLET) undergoes biennial five-day audits by
the other three parties (i.e., U.S. EPA, NYS DEC, and MOE) to the Niagara
River Toxics Management Plan/Declaration of Intent. The last audit was
conducted from October 23 to 27, 2000.
The Government of Canada notes the IJC's recommendation for the development
and implementation of a binational information policy within two years,
to support implementation of the GLWQA. It is prepared to work with the
U.S. government to this end. The Parties have recognized the value of
a binational database for improved data accessibility and reporting, and
have adopted such an approach to manage the information collected by the
Canada/ U.S. Integrated Atmospheric Deposition Network (IADN) under Annex
15. In addition, advanced technology in the form of a computerized quality
assurance protocol is used to ensure compatibility and comparability of
data collected by all parties to IADN. The success of this initiative
may serve as a model for a comprehensive binational information policy.
Environment Canada is currently developing an Information Management
and Information Technology (IM/IT) Strategy to deal with a wide variety
of issues in the coming three to five years. This project includes a review
of current management practices associated with program information that
is created, used, or transferred to or from the department. The strategy
will promote the use of IM/IT standards and protocols and is expected
to provide further direction on Great Lakes data and information management
practices.
Environment Canada is also exploring the development of a federal Canadian
Information System for the Environment (CISE). A task force has been assigned
the job of designing an integrated knowledge management system for environmental
information. The task force will be considering the following elements:
monitoring and data collection, information management and information
technology, research tools and networks, and communication needs and opportunities.
The scope of this project is largely restricted to the natural environment
although links to other knowledge systems, such as the Health Information
System (managed by the Canadian Institute for Health Information), will
be made.
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