International Boundary Commission facts for kids
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Commission de la frontière internationale
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Sign at the international border between Calais, Maine, in the United States and St. Stephen, New Brunswick, in Canada (August 2019)
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| Abbreviation | IBC |
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| Formation | 1908 |
| Purpose | Surveying and mapping the Canada–United States border |
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Commissioners
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 Jean Gagnon Kyle K. Hipsley |
| Website | |
The International Boundary Commission (also known as Commission de la frontière internationale in French) is a special group made up of people from both Canada and the United States. Their main job is to look after the long border between the two countries.
This commission was started in 1908 and became a permanent group in 1925. They make sure the border is clear and easy to see. They also check on any new buildings or projects that are planned very close to the border.
The commission's duties include:
- Keeping track of the special markers and buoys that show where the border is.
- Making sure a clear path, about 3 meters (10 feet) wide, is kept free of trees and bushes along the border. This path is called the "border vista."
- Checking and approving requests to build anything within this clear border path.
- Reporting every year to the governments of both Canada and the United States about their work.
Contents
How the Commission Works
The International Boundary Commission is led by two main people called commissioners. One commissioner is from the United States, and the other is from Canada. Each commissioner has their own team and budget to get the work done.
The American commissioner is chosen by the president of the United States. They report to the United States Secretary of State, who is a top government official. The Canadian commissioner is chosen by the Governor General of Canada, who represents the King in Canada. This commissioner also works as the main surveyor for Canada under the Minister of Natural Resources (Canada).
Currently, the commissioners are Kyle K. Hipsley for the United States and Jean Gagnon for Canada.
Who Leads the US Side?
Sometimes, there are changes in who leads the US side of the commission. For example, David L. Bernhardt, who later became a top official in the US government, was the US commissioner from 2007 to 2008.
In 2007, there was a discussion about whether the US president could remove the American commissioner from their job. A US federal judge later decided that the president does have the power to fire the boundary commissioner. This means the president can choose who leads the US part of the commission.
Rules for Building Near the Border
The treaty that created the commission has important rules about building near the border. If someone wants to build a power line, pipeline, railroad, highway, or any other structure that crosses the border or is within 3 meters (about 10 feet) of it, they must get permission from the commission first.
Before these rules existed, some unique buildings were built right on the border. These are sometimes called "line houses." One famous example is the Haskell Free Library and Opera House. This building was built on purpose so that the border runs right through it!
Another special place that needed the commission's approval was the International Peace Garden. This garden was created in 1932 on the border between Manitoba, Canada, and North Dakota, USA, to celebrate peace between the two countries.
See also
- Borders of Canada
- Borders of the United States
- Boundary Commission Trail
