CANADIAN ADVISORS TO THE GREAT LAKES FISHERY COMMISSION
TERMS OF REFERENCE
  1. Canadian Advisors shall be appointed under the provisions of the 1955 Convention on Great Lake Fisheries.
  2. Canadian Advisors shall be co-nominated formally and in writing by the Canadian Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and the Ontario Minister of Natural Resources and submitted to the Canadian Section for appointment. The Secretariat of the GLFC will assist in the management of this process.
  3. Canadian Advisors should be selected on the basis of representing the following areas:
    1. a) The commercial fishing industry
    2. b) The sports fishing interests
    3. c) The Aboriginal community
    4. d) The public-at-large (eg: Tourism, Cottagers’ Associations, or Municipalities)
    5. e) Environmental interests (eg: Non-Government Organization, Ministry of Environment, or Conservation Authority)
    6. f) Academia

      7. (Note:  Consideration also needs to be given to geographic distribution across the Great Lakes Basin).

  4. There shall be 6 Canadian Advisors , which shall be appointed for a three-year term, with the possibility of renewal for a second three-year term.  (Note: The initial terms of appointment should be staggered as both 2 and 3 year terms to allow for overlap of the Advisors and retention of “institutional memory”.)   There will be a Chair, Vice-Chair, and Secretary, chosen by and from the Advisors.  In the event that a member is not contributing satisfactorily, the Chair shall report to the Canadian Section for review and possible replacement of that member.
  5. The Canadian Advisors will receive no compensation from either the Canadian or Ontario Governments for their services as Advisors.  Canada (DFO) and Ontario (MNR) will share annually the associated travel costs for the Advisors to the Annual Meeting. (Travel costs will be reimbursed as per the guidelines for travel expenditures for Ontario Civil Servants).  If the GLFC requests the attendance of the Advisors at other meetings, then the GLFC will pay the associated travel costs.
  6. The role of the Advisors is to inform the Canadian Section about the various issues before the GLFC.  Advisors shall also assist the Commissioners in making informed decisions as they seek to achieve the objectives of the Commission related to sea lamprey control and the maintenance of fish populations in the Great Lakes.  Further, the Canadian Advisors shall consider matters referred to them by the Canadian Section, as well as other matters which the Advisors believe are of concern to the Great Lakes fisheries, whether environmental, biological or social.
  7. The Canadian Advisors should meet at least annually, prior to the GLFC Annual Meeting, to consider issues before the Commission and to develop advisory consensus positions to present to the Canadian Section.  As noted above, the Advisors should also bring to the attention of the Canadian Section matters which they consider important for review by the Section.  The Advisors should also hold a teleconference prior to the GLFC Interim Meeting to provide input to the Commissioners on relevant Great Lakes issues.  All reports, with recommendations, should be in writing to the Chair of the Canadian Section.
  8.  The Canadian Advisors shall be invited to attend all non-executive meetings of the Canadian Section and/or the Commission, and at such meetings shall be granted the opportunity to examine, and be heard on, all proposed recommendations, programs and activities.
  9. The Canadian Advisors would be encouraged to attend the Lake Committee meetings, as observers.  However, travel costs for these meetings will have to be covered by the individual Advisor, or by their sponsoring agency.
  10. Decision-making by the Advisors, on issues before them, should be by consensus.  If consensus cannot be achieved, the concerns of the different interests shall be described in any report to the Canadian Section.
  11. The GLFC Secretariat will supply support services to the Canadian Advisors.