Published online by Cambridge University Press: 13 October 2015
This article presents an account of international law and its possible future that revolves around three key themes: responsibility, fraternity, and sustainability. These three themes were promoted by Charles Doherty Gonthier, visionary justice of the Supreme Court of Canada from 1989 to 2003, for whom the inaugural lecture where this article was presented is named.
Cet article présente un récit du droit international et de son éventuel avenir qui est ancré dans trois thèmes principaux: la responsabilité, la fraternité et la durabilité. Ces trois thèmes ont été promus par Charles Doherty Gonthier, juge visionnaire de la Cour suprême du Canada de 1989 à 2003, pour qui est nommé la conférence inaugurale où cet article a été présenté.
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10 Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer, 16 September 1987, 1522 UNTS 28.
11 See World Meteorological Organization, Scientific Assessment of Ozone Depletion: 2014 (WMO Global Ozone Research and Monitoring Project — Report no 56, 2014), online: <http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/csd/assessments/ozone/2014/assessment_for_decision-makers.pdf>.
12 Charter of the United Nations, 24 October 1945, 1 UNTS 16, art 2(4): “All Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations.”
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28 See online: <http://www.icj-cij.org/jurisdiction/index.php?p1=5&p2=1&p3=3&code=CA>; Statute of the International Court of Justice, 26 June 1945, Can TS 1945 No 7 (in force 24 October 1945) [ICJ Statute].
29 Delimitation of the Maritime Boundary in the Gulf of Maine Area (Canada/US), [1984] ICJ Rep 246; Fisheries Jurisdiction (Spain v Canada), Preliminary Objections, [1998] ICJ Rep 432; Legality of the Use of Force (Serbia and Montenegro v Canada), Preliminary Objections, [2004] ICJ Rep 429.
30 Conditions of Admission of a State to Membership of the United Nations (Article 4 of the Charter), [1948] ICJ Rep 57; Interpretation of Peace Treaties with Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania, [1950] ICJ Rep 65; Effect of Awards of Compensation made by the United Nations Administrative Tribunal, [1954] ICJ Rep 47; Certain Expenses of the United Nations (Article 17, paragraph 2 of the Charter), [1962] ICJ Rep 151; Applicability of Article VI, Section 22, of the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations, [1969] ICJ Rep 177; Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, [2004] ICJ Rep 136.
31 See eg European Communities – Measures Prohibiting the Importation and Marketing of Seal Products, WTO Doc No WT/DS400/AB/R, WT/DS401/AB/R (Appellate Body, 22 May 2014). See further Elizabeth Whitsitt, “A Comment on the Public Morals Exception in International Trade and the EC – Seal Products Case: Moral Imperialism and Other Concerns” (2014) 3 CJICL 1372.
32 See eg SD Myers Inc v Canada, Award (2000) 121 ILR 72 (NAFTA) [SD Myers award]; SD Myers Inc v Canada, Costs (2002) 126 ILR 161 (NAFTA) [SD Myers costs]; Attorney-General of Canada v SD Myers Inc (2004) 126 ILR 553 (Federal Court of Canada).
33 Delimitation of Maritime Areas Between Canada and the French Republic (St. Pierre and Miquelon) (Canada/France) (1992) 95 ILR 645.
34 North American Free Trade Agreement, 18 December 1992, 32 ILM 289 at 605.
35 United Parcel Service of America v Government of Canada (2007) 46 ILM 922; Merrill & Ring Forestry LP v Government of Canada, UNCITRAL/NAFTA (Award, 31 March 2010); Chemtura Corporation v Government of Canada, UNCITRAL/NAFTA (Award, 2 August 2010); Melvin J Howard, Centurion Heath Corporation & Howard Family Trust, PCA Case no 2009-21 (Order for the Termination of Proceedings and Award on Costs, 2 August 2010); Vito G Gallo v Government of Canada, UNCITRAL/NAFTA (Award, 15 September 2011).
36 AbitibiBowaterInc v Government of Canada, ICSID Case no UNCT/10/1 (Consent Award, 15 December 2010); St Marys VCNA LLC v Government of Canada, UNCITRAL/NAFTA (Consent Award, 12 April 2013).
37 Ethyl Corporation v Government of Canada, UNCITRAL/NAFTA (Award on Jurisdiction, 24 June 1998); Dow Agrosciences LLC v Government of Canada, UNCITRAL/NAFTA (Settlement Agreement, 25 May 2011), online: UNCITRAL <http://www.uncitral.org/res/transparency-registry/registry/data/can/dow_agrosciences_llc_html/dow-03.pdf>.
38 Pope & Talbot v Government of Canada, Award (2001) 122 ILR 294; Pope & Talbot v Government of Canada, Costs (2002) 126 ILR 127.
39 SD Myers award, supra note 32; SD Myers costs, supra note 32.
40 See online: DFATD <http://www.international.gc.ca/trade-agreements-accords-commerciaux/topics-domaines/disp-diff/gov.aspx?lang=eng>. The two cases pending quantification are Mobil Investments Canada Inc & Murphy Oil Corporation, ICSID Case no ARB(AF)/07/4 (Decision on Liability and Principles of Quantum, 22 May 2012) and William Ralph Clayton, William Richard Clayton, Douglas Clayton, Daniel Clayton and Bilcon of Delaware Inc, PCA Case no 2009-04 (Award on Jurisdiction and Liability, 17 March 2015).
41 See online: WTO <https://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/countries_e/canada_e.htm>.
42 Other states against which Canada has been pitted include Brazil (one case as complainant, three as respondent), Japan (one case as complainant, two as respondent), China (three cases as complainant), South Korea (two cases as complainant), Taiwan (one case as respondent), India (one case as complainant), Australia (one case as complainant), Hungary (one case as complainant), and New Zealand (one case as respondent).
43 Australia – Measures Affecting Importation of Salmon, WTO Doc WT/DS18/AB/R (Appellate Body Report, 20 October 1998).
44 Brazil – Export Financing Programme for Aircraft, WTO Doc WT/DS46/AB/R (Appellate Body Report, 2 August 1999). Cf Canada – Measures Affecting the Export of Civilian Aircraft, WTO Doc WT/DS70/AB/R (Appellate Body Report, 2 August 1999); Canada – Aircraft Credits and Guarantees, WTO Doc WT/DS222/R (Panel Report, 28 January 2002).
45 United States – Certain Country of Origin Labelling (COOL) Requirements, WTO Doc WT/DS384/AB/R (Appellate Body Report, 29 June 2012).
46 United States – Measures Treating Export Restraints as Subsidies, WTO Doc WT/DS194/R (Panel Report, 29 June 2001); United States – Preliminary Determinations with Respect to Certain Softwood Lumber from Canada, WTO Doc WT/DS236/R (Panel Report, 27 September 2002); United States – Final Countervailing Duty Determination with Respect to Certain Softwood Lumber from Canada, WTO Doc WT/DS257/AB/R (Appellate Body Report, 19 January 2004); United States – Investigation of the International Trade Commission in Softwood Lumber from Canada, WTO Doc WT/DS277/R (Panel Report, 22 March 2004); United States – Final Dumping Determination on Softwood Lumber from Canada, WTO Doc WT/DS264/AB/R (Appellate Body Report, 11 August 2004). See further Gagné, Gilbert & Roch, François, “The US–Canada Softwood Lumber Dispute and the WTO Definition of Subsidy” (2008) 7 WTR 547.Google Scholar
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52 Re Reference by the Governor in Council Concerning Certain Questions Relating to the Secession of Quebec from Canada (1998), 161 DLR (4th) 385, 115 ILR 536 (SCC) [Quebec Secession]. See further Turp, Daniel & van Ert, Gibran, “International Recognition of the Supreme Court of Canada’s Québec Reference” (1998) 36 Can YB Int’l L 335;Google Scholar Crawford, James, The Creation of States in International Law, 2nd ed (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2006) at 119–21, 411–12;Google Scholar Crawford, James, Brownlie’s Principles of Public International Law, 8th ed (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2012) at 141–42 [Crawford, Brownlie’s Principles].CrossRefGoogle Scholar
53 Accordance with International Law of the Unilateral Declaration of Independence in Respect of Kosovo, [2010] ICJ Rep 403 at 425–26.
54 Samuel Johnson, Johnson’s Dictionary (reissue, Charles J. Hendee 1836) at 143.
55 See eg Johnson’s definitions for “fraternal” (“a. brotherly, becoming brothers”), “fraternize” (“v. n. to agree as brothers”), and “fratricide” (“s. the murder of a brother”). Ibid.
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60 Ibid at 575. Cf Donoghue v Stevenson, [1932] AC 562 at 580 (HL), Lord Atkin: “In this way rules of law arise which limit the range of complainants and the extent of their remedy. The rule that you are to love your neighbour becomes in law, you must not injure your neighbour; and the lawyer’s question, Who is my neighbour? receives a restricted reply.”
61 See further Geiß, Robin & Hilf, Meinhard, “Most Favoured Nation Clause” in Wolfrum, R, ed, Max Planck Encyclopedia of Public International Law, online ed (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2014).Google Scholar
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63 This is drawn by no obvious reference to geographic circumstances, but rather represents the point north of which the sun may remain above or below the horizon for 24 hours continuously. As it depends on the Earth’s axial tilt, the Arctic Circle has the potential to move over time. This may also vary domestically: the United States, for example, designates the Bering Sea and a portion of Alaska (eg, the Aleutians) below the Arctic Circle as being considered “the Arctic” for internal policy purposes. “‘Arctic’ Defined,” 15 USC § 4111. Canada, for its part, draws the line at 60°N. Arctic Waters Pollution Prevention Act, RSC 1985, c A-12, s 2.
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66 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, 10 December 1982, 1833 UNTS 3, art 136 [UNCLOS].
67 US Geological Survey, “90 Billion Barrels of Oil and 1,670 Trillion Cubic Feet of Natural Gas Assessed in the Arctic,” Press Release (23 July 2008), online: <http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/article.asp?ID=1980#.VUdYxhPF-iY>; Donald L Gautier et al, “Assessment of Undiscovered Oil and Gas in the Arctic” (2009) 324 Science 1175.
68 See eg Borgerson, Scott G, “Arctic Meltdown: The Economic and Security Implications of Global Warming” (2007) 87 Foreign Affairs 63;Google Scholar but Borgerson, cf Scott G, “The Coming Arctic Boom: As the Ice Melts, the Region Heats Up” (2013) 92 Foreign Affairs 76.Google Scholar
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72 Byers, supra note 64 at 10–15.
73 Antarctic Treaty, 1 December 1959, 402 UNTS 71. The most significant documents surrounding this regime can be found in Saul, Ben & Stephens, Tim, eds, Antarctica in International Law (Oxford: Hart, 2015).Google Scholar See further Crawford, James, “The Antarctic Treaty after 50 Years” in French, D et al, eds, International Law and Dispute Settlement: New Problems and Techniques (Oxford: Hart, 2010) 271;Google Scholar Crawford, Brownlie’s Principles, supra note 52 at 345–46.
74 See eg “US Directive on Arctic Policy,” 9 January 2009, 48 ILM 374, para III.C.3.
75 Ilulissat Declaration, 28 May 2008, 48 ILM 362.
76 “US Directive on Arctic Policy,” supra note 74, para III.C.4.
77 See eg United States v Alaska, 503 US 568 at 588 (1992); Sarei v Rio Tinto PLC, 456 F.3d 1069 at 1078 (9th Cir, 2006). The United States is a party to the 1958 Geneva conventions, the predecessor agreements to UNCLOS, supra note 66: Convention on the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone, 29 April 1958, 516 UNTS 205 (entered into force 10 September 1964); Convention on the Continental Shelf, 29 April 1958, 499 UNTS 311 (entered into force 10 June 1964); Convention on the High Seas, 29 April 1958, 450 UNTS 11 (entered into force 30 September 1962); Convention on Fishing and Conservation of the Living Resources of the High Seas, 29 April 1958, 559 UNTS 285 (entered into force 20 March 1966).
78 Byers, supra note 46, ch 2.
79 Agreement between the Government of Canada and the Government of the Kingdom of Denmark Relating to the Delimitation of the Continental Shelf between Greenland and Canada, 17 December 1973, 950 UNTS 151. This arrangement left to one side the question of Hans Island, though certain commentators are of the view that this question will be shortly settled. Byers, supra note 46 at 15–16.
80 Agreement between the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on the Maritime Boundary, 1 June 1990, 29 ILM 942. The boundary itself is based on the line described in the 1867 agreement that implemented the purchase of Alaska by the United States. Treaty Concerning the Cession of the Russian Possessions in North America by his Majesty the Emperor of All the Russias to the United States of America, 30 March 1867, 134 CTS 332, art 1.
81 Agreement between the Government of the Kingdom of Norway on the One Hand, and the Government of the Kingdom of Denmark together with the Home Rule Government of Greenland on the Other Hand, Concerning the Delimitation of the Continental Shelf and the Fisheries Zones in the Area between Greenland and Svalbard, 20 February 2006, 2378 UNTS 21. See further Oude Elferink, Alex G, “Maritime Delimitation between Denmark/Greenland and Norway” (2007) 38 ODIL 375.Google Scholar
82 Maritime Delimitation in the Area between Greenland and Jan Mayen (Denmark v Norway), [1993] ICJ Rep 38.
83 Treaty between the Kingdom of Norway and the Russian Federation concerning Maritime Delimitation and Cooperation in the Barents Sea and the Arctic Ocean, 15 September 2010, 50 ILM 1113 [Barents Sea Treaty]. See further Hendriksen, Tore & Ulfstein, Geir, “Maritime Delimitation in the Arctic: The Barents Sea Treaty” (2011) 42 ODIL 1; Byers, supra note 46 at 39–46.Google Scholar
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85 Sergei Lavrov & Jonas Gahr Støre, “Canada, Take Note: Here’s How to Resolve Maritime Disputes,” Globe and Mail (21 September 2010), online: Globe and Mail <http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/canada-take-note-heres-how-to-resolve-maritime-disputes/article4326372/>.
86 Cf Rio Declaration on the Environment and Development, 14 June 1992, 31 ILM 974, Principle 15: “Where there are threats of serious or irreversible damage, lack of full scientific certainty shall not be used as a reason for postponing cost-effective measures to prevent environmental degradation.” See further Trindade, Antônio Augusto Cançado, “Principle 15: Precaution” in Viñuales, J, ed, The Rio Declaration on Environment and Development: A Commentary (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2015) 403.Google Scholar
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88 Ibid, art 5.
89 Ibid, preamble, para 4.
90 Hendriksen & Ulfstein, supra note 83 at 10.
91 This leaves to one side the comparatively minor disputes between Canada and Denmark concerning Hans Island and the Lincoln Sea, which in any event appear to be close to resolution. Byers, supra note 46 at 46–54.
92 Cf North Sea Continental Shelf (FRG/Netherlands; FRG/Denmark), [1969] ICJ Rep 3 at 22; Continental Shelf (Libya/Malta), [1985] ICJ Rep 13 at 32. See further Churchill, Robin & Lowe, Vaughan, The Law of the Sea, 3rd ed (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 1999) at 145–50;Google Scholar Crawford, Brownlie’s Principles, supra note 52 at 291–92.
93 UNCLOS, supra note 66, art 76(8). On the work of the commission and the concept of the outer continental shelf more generally, see Jensen, Øystein, The Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf: Law and Legitimacy (Leiden: Martinus Nijhoff, 2014).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
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95 See online: UN <http://www.un.org/depts/los/clcs_new/submissions_files/submission_can_70_2013.htm>.
96 A diverse group of US lawmakers has urged ratification for this very reason. See eg Letter from Governors Palin & O’Malley to Senators Reid, McConnell, Kerry & Lugar, 15 June 2009, online: <http://www.oceanlaw.org/downloads/NGA_Letter_to_Senate_June2009.pdf>.
97 Sian Griffiths, “US–Canada Arctic Border Dispute Key to Maritime Riches,” BBC News (2 August 2010), online: BBC <http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-10834006>.
98 “Russia Plants Flag under N Pole,” BBC News (2 August 2007), online: BBC <http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6927395.stm>.
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102 Arctic Environmental Protection Strategy, 14 January 1991, 30 ILM 1624.
103 But cf Bloom, supra note 100 at 715–16. See further Sands & Jacqueline Peel, Philippe, Principles of International Environmental Law, 3rd ed (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2012) at 593–96.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
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108 The council’s achievements during its most recent (Canadian-chaired) biennial are listed in the Iqaluit Declaration of 25 April 2015, signed during the Council’s ninth ministerial meeting. See online: Arctic Council <http://www.arctic-council.org/index.php/en/document-archive/category/604-declaration-sao-report?download=2740:iqaluit-declaration-final-signed-version>.
109 Agreement on Cooperation on Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue in the Arctic, 12 May 2011, 50 ILM 1119.
110 Convention on International Civil Aviation, 7 December 1944, 15 UNTS 102.
111 International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue, 1 November 1979, 1405 UNTS 97.
112 Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Cooperation, 30 November 1990, 1891 UNTS 51.
113 Byers, supra note 46 at 212.
114 See eg Editorial, “Thawing Ice and Chilly Diplomacy in the Arctic,” New York Times (27 April 2015), online: New York Times <http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/28/opinion/thawing-ice-and-chilly-diplomacy-in-the-arctic.html?_r=1>..>Google Scholar
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124 Ibid at 270–72.
125 Convention between the United States, Great Britain, Russia and Japan for the Preservation and Protection of Fur Seals, 7 July 1911, 214 CTS 80 (as amended). See further Scott Barrett, Environment and Statecraft: The Strategy of Environmental Treaty-Making (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005), ch 2.
126 Trail Smelter (US v Canada) (1938, 1941), 3 RIAA 1905.
127 Ibid at 1965.
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132 Lowe, supra note 120 at 256.
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143 Canada–EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, online: <http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2014/september/tradoc_152806.pdf>.
144 Ibid, c 23.
145 Ibid, preamble, para 4: “REAFFIRMING their commitment to promote sustainable development and the development of international trade in such a way as to contribute to sustainable development in its economic, social and environmental dimensions.”
146 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, 23 May 1969, 1155 UNTS 331.
147 References to sustainable development also appear in the preambles to NAFTA and the Canadian Model Foreign Investment Protection Agreement. See further Gehring, Markus W & Kent, Avidan, “International Investment Agreements and the Emerging Green Economy: Rising to the Challenge” in Baetens, F, ed, Investment Law within International Law: Integrationist Perspectives (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2013) 187 at 202–4.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
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164 ICJ Statute, supra note 28, art 36(1).
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169 See further Sands & Peel, supra note 3 at 808ff.
170 Canada – Certain Measures Affecting the Renewable Energy General Sector; Canada – Measures Relating to the Feed-in Tariff Program, WT/DS412/AB/R, WT/DS426/AB/R (Appellate Body Report, 6 May 2013). See further Shadikhovjaev, Sherzod, “First WTO Judicial Review of Climate Change Subsidy Issues” (2013) 107 AJIL 864.Google Scholar
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175 Gonthier, “Sustainable Development,” supra note 2 at 13.