1.

ANNOUNCEMENTS / CALL FOR COMMENTS

1. Selection of Delegates to the Pulp and Paper Effluent Regulations Multi-Stakeholder Information Session
2. Joint Federal Provincial Review Panels for Oil Sands Projects
3. Youth Round Table on the Environment Draft National Framework: Input Needed
4. Call for Comment: Commission for Environmental Cooperation

2.

UPCOMING EVENTS

1. 5th Annual National Sustainable Campuses Conference
2. Water and Climate Change: Knowledge for Better Adaptation

1.

ANNOUNCEMENTS / CALL FOR COMMENTS

i.

Selection of Delegates to the Pulp and Paper Effluent Regulations Multi-Stakeholder Information Session

Further to an invitation from Environment Canada, four (4) ENGO delegates will attend the multi-stakeholder information session on amendments to the Pulp and Paper Effluent Regulations on Monday, July 28, 2003 in Gatineau, Quebec. They are: Robert Christie from the Pictou Harbour Environmental Protection Project phepp@ca.inter.net; James Landry from the Club d'ornithologie du Madawaska Ltée ecp@nbnet.nb.ca; Greg Mitchell of the Labrador Metis Nation gmitchell@labmetis.org; and Beatrice Olivastri from Friends of the Earth beatrice@foecanada.org. Please contact the delegates to provide them with any input you might have.

ii.

Joint Federal Provincial Review Panels for Oil Sands Projects

The Federal Government has announced that the next two open pit oil sands mines proposed for northeastern Alberta will be subject to review by joint Federal/Provincial review panels pursuant to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. These will be the first oil sands projects subject to joint panel review. The first project is the Canadian Natural Resources Limited, Horizon project, and the second is the Shell Jackpine Mine. To view the news releases, funding notices, and draft agreements regarding these reviews, please visit the CEAA web site.

An Alberta-based coalition of ENGOs has been working on oil sands issues for several years now. The Oil Sands Environmental Coalition (OSEC) currently consists of the Pembina Institute for Appropriate Development, Toxics Watch Society, and the Fort McMurray Environmental Association.

For more information, please e-mail OSEC at the following addresses: Dan Woynillowiz, Pembina Institute, danw@pembina.org and Myles Kitagawa, Toxics Watch Society of Alberta, toxwatch@edmc.net.

iii.

Youth Round Table on the Environment Draft National Framework: Input Needed

The Youth Round Table on the Environment (YRTE) has issued a draft National Framework to Minister Anderson, Environment Canada, and National Resources Canada, on Engaging Youth in Climate Change issues. It is envisioned by members of the YRTE that the Federal Government will allocate funding for the framework components, with secondary interveners (such as private sector, academic institutions, and non-governmental organizations) contributing resources, training, and employment opportunities. This proposal also takes stock of lessons learned and opportunities that currently exist for youth involvement across Canada.

It is essential to get input from the Canadian youth community on this framework. If you are 29 or under and interested in giving your comments, please contact the Youth Environmental Network via info@yen-rej.org to request a copy of the framework. Please feel free to pass on this opportunity to others.

iv.

Call for Comment: Commission for Environmental Cooperation

A draft Phase One North American Regional Action Plan on Dioxins and Furans, and Hexachlorobenzene is now available for public comment. These three substances are a group of organic pollutants that are toxic, persistent and bioaccumulative, and which can be transported long distances through atmospheric and aquatic pathways.

The public comment period is the next-to-last step in the completion of an action plan that sets out practical measures to reduce the risks to the environment and human health in Canada, Mexico, and the United States from the release of these substances.

Comments should be sent by 16 September 2003, at 17:00 hr EST to:

Doug Wright
Director of Programs
Commission for Environmental Cooperation
393 St-Jacques West, Suite 200
Montreal, Quebec H2Y 1N9
Fax: (514) 350-4314
E-mail: dwright@ccemtl.org

The draft action plan is available on the CEC's web site. For more information, contact Erika Hercules at ehercules@ccemtl.org or visit the CEN's web site.

2.

UPCOMING EVENTS

i.

5th Annual National Sustainable Campuses Conference

The Sierra Youth Coalition (SYC), the youth-run arm of the Sierra Club of Canada, announces the 2003 Sustainable Campuses Conference. The Sustainable Campuses Conference provides students, academics, faculty, administration, community groups, professionals, and activists from across Canada with the opportunity to expand their knowledge and develop skills on how to promote sustainability on campus.

This gathering is an innovative, creative and practical skills-building event designed to enable participants to use the resources of their community towards the improvement of the quality of life of the people and of the ecosystems on campus.

The event will take place in Montreal, Quebec from 2nd - 5th October 2003 at McGill University.

More information on this year's Sustainable Campuses, as well as Conference Registration forms, are available from the SYC web site. If you would like to receive updates about the conference, please submit your name, school and e-mail address to Sarah Schiff, Conference Coordinator. You may also reach Sarah by phone at (514) 398-4947.

ii.

Water and Climate Change: Knowledge for Better Adaptation

Call for papers for the 2004 Canadian Water Resources Association (CWRA) conference on "Water and Climate Change: Knowledge for Better Adaptation", June 16-18, 2004 in Montreal, PQ. The deadline for Abstract Submission is January 31, 2004. For more information please visit www.ouranos.ca/acrh.