International Boundary Commission:
The thinning of the boundary
Dr. Brian Ballantyne
Advisor to the Canadian Commissioner
United States – Canada Transportation Border
Working Group Meeting: Boston
April 13, 2010
IBC mandate
The IBC’s mandate – since 1908 – has been to
maintain at all times an effective boundary line
between Canada and the United States:
the boundary runs for 8,891 km (5,525 miles) from the
Atlantic to the Pacific and from the Pacific to the Beaufort.
in 2007, the IBC maintained some 770 km (478 miles) of the
boundary at eight sections.
Boundary Bay: British Columbia / Washington
Hall’s Stream: Quebec / New Hampshire
Current stream location
Boundary
Aroostook Valley Golf Course
New
Brunswick
Maine
45th parallel: Akwesasne - St. Regis
IBC authority - Treaties
Treaty of 1908 – Appointed two Commissioners
to demarcate the boundary.
Treaty of 1925 – Empowered Commissioners to:
inspect the boundary;
survey the boundary;
repair damaged monuments and buoys;
keep the boundary vistas open;
establish additional monuments.
IBC authority - Legislation
Canada - IBC Act of 1960:
The purpose of the legislation is to maintain an
effective boundary line between Canada and the
United States. For that purpose, the IBC may:
clear from private land such vegetation required to
maintain a 10 foot wide vista;
remove any improvements constructed after 1960 within
10 feet of the boundary.
United States – No comparable legislation
Boundary vista
Is the vista important?
Yes. The vista:
allows the IBC to access monuments (safety);
provides notice of the extent of jurisdiction;
assists law enforcement and border security needs.
Since 1908, the IBC has:
exercised much discretion as to how it maintains a vista;
worked cooperatively with private landowners.
Boundary enhancement plans
Haskell Free Library
(Quebec/Vermont)
Stanstead / Derby Line
Deck within 2 m (7 ft) of bound
Gates (non-IBC) &
orange carsonite markers (IBC)
Markers (on bound) &
gates (south of bound)
Monument, marker, paint line &
traffic barricade
Surrey / Blaine
Boundary enhancement
Then
Now
Surrey / Blaine: Leu wall
Boundary Bay
Point Roberts / Tsawwassen:
fence allowed within 2 ft of bound
Point Roberts / Tsawwassen:
fences & hedges 10 ft from bound