1.

CALL FOR DELEGATES

1. Reference Group On Metal Mining Effluent Regulations
2. Consultation Meeting on proposed regulation on VOCs in Architectural and Industrial Maintenance (AIM) Coatings
3. Fifth Session Of United Nations Forum On Forests (UNFF5)

2.

CALL FOR INPUT

1. Earth Day Canada's National Award Program
2. Environmental Defense is considering the fate of their Scorecard website
3. Common Vision for Transforming the Paper Industry

3.

ANNOUNCEMENT

1. ENGO: 2006 World Urban Forum - National Advisory Committee

4.

EVENTS

1. 45th Annual General Meeting of the Canadian Commission for UNESCO
2. Celebrate the Wild Nahanni
3. Aboriginal Forum Conference on Alternative and Renewable Energy Projects with First Nations
4. A Protest Against the Annual Seal Hunt

5.

RESOURCES

1. Environment Canada Off-Road Compression-Ignition Engine Emission Regulations finalized
2. UK White Paper
3. Report on vehicle GHG emissions / fuel-efficiency standards
4. Tools of Change Launches Interactive, Web-Based Environmental Social Marketing Workshops, Offers Some Free to Non-Profits

6.

JOBS

1. EECOM Executive Director
2. Campaigns Director

1.

CALL FOR DELEGATES

i.

Reference Group On Metal Mining Effluent Regulations

The RCEN Mining Caucus is seeking interested ENGO representatives to form a Reference Group (RG) that will be involved in the review of the proposed amendments to the Metal Mining Effluent Regulation (MMER).

The RG will be made of ENGO representatives interested and knowledgeable on issues related to mines. The RG will be working with the 4 ENGO representatives to the MAG.

The deadline to apply is March 15, 2005. See the full call for delegate, the application form and the role and level of commitment required for the RG members on the RCEN website. Also, for more information about the MMER, the workshop last fall and the MAG, please visit the RCEN Mining Caucus webpage.

ii.

Consultation Meeting on proposed regulation on VOCs in Architectural and Industrial Maintenance (AIM) Coatings

When: April 5, 2005
Where: Toronto, Ontario
Number of ENGO Delegates sought: 2-3
Deadline to apply: March 21, 2005

Environment Canada is planning a consultation meeting to present background information and discuss elements of the proposed regulation, which will set mandatory VOC content limits for AIM coatings.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are primary precursors to the formation of ground level ozone and particulate matter in the atmosphere which are the main ingredients of the air pollutant referred to as smog. Smog is known to cause serious health effects for Canadians as well as harmful effects on vegetation.

Environment Canada will reimburse, consistent with Treasury Board Guidelines, the travel and accommodation expenses for up to 3 ENGO participants. Environment Canada will require a written report after the consultation from each delegate, which will include their position on the proposed regulation and any comments or recommendations. Delegates will be compensated for the preparation of these reports.

For more information and the online application form, please visit the RCEN website or contact Barbara Schaefer: tel: (613) 728-9810 ext. 30.

iii.

Fifth Session Of United Nations Forum On Forests (UNFF5)

When and Where: 16-27 May 2005 in New York, NY, USA
Number of Delegate sought: 1 ENGO representative
Subsidies: Travel, accommodation, meals and incidentals are covered to attend meeting.
Deadline: March 18, 2005

The Canadian Environment Network (RCEN) has been invited to nominate one ENGO representative for the official Canadian Delegation. More information and documents are now available on the UNFF's web page. The main topic for discussion will be: Parameters of a mandate for developing a legal framework on all types of forests.

If you are interested in being a part of the canadian delegation for this forum, please fill out the online application form on the RCEN website or contact Chantal Bois at tel: (613) 728-9810 ext. 24.

2.

CALL FOR INPUT

i.

Earth Day Canada's National Award Program

Earth Day Canada is looking for the environmental heroes in your community. These Hometown Heroes are people who have made significant positive contributions and improved the state of the environment at the local level. In order to recognize these local heroes and celebrate their efforts and achievements, Earth Day Canada has established the Earth Day Hometown Heroes Award Program. A national winner will be selected and honoured at a gala dinner in Toronto, on June 2, 2005.

For more details and the online application visit the Earth Day website. If you have any questions please contact by email: heroes@earthday.ca. Applications must be postmarked no later than April 22, 2005.

ii.

Environmental Defense is considering the fate of their Scorecard website

Environmental Defense's Scorecard.org website enables visitors to easily access pollution reports covering toxic releases, air quality, and other environmental issues in their community. Scorecard averages around 100,000 unique visitors monthly, making it Goggle’s top ranked website for information about toxic chemicals and local pollution.

Environmental Defense has recently concluded that operating costs for Scorecard, as currently structured, are no longer sustainable given the organization's priorities and resources. Environmental Defense is now seeking input on several questions regarding the Scorecard.

Please email answers (and any other comments about Scorecard) to the Environmental Defense. Please indicate if you'd like to receive a synopsis of comments received and the ultimate outcome.

iii.

Common Vision for Transforming the Paper Industry

In 2002 the Environmental Paper Network, a coalition of American and Canadian environmental organizations, produced the Common Vision for Transforming the Paper Industry. The Common Vision has been signed by close to 100 groups, large and small. It presents goals for transforming the way in which paper is produced and consumed and consists of:

1. A treatise that is meant to unify the efforts of environmental organizations in advancing environmental and social responsibility within the paper production and consumption cycle.
2. A guidance to best practices for manufacturers, governments, purchasers, and suppliers.
3. Guidelines for environmentally preferable paper purchasing.
4. A hierarchy of pulping and bleaching processes.

We want you to read the Common Vision and join us in setting a unified, common goal post for changing paper use and consumption in North America. Please visit the Environmental Paper Network website to sign on to this vision list.

3.

ANNOUNCEMENT

i.

ENGO: 2006 World Urban Forum - National Advisory Committee

The RCEN has selected Amelia Clarke from the Sierra Club of Canada to be the ENGO representative to join the 2006 World Urban Forum National Advisory Committee (NAC).

Amelia is President of the Board for Sierra Club of Canada. She is currently doing a PhD at McGill University in the Faculty of Management, in Montreal, and her dissertation topic will be sustainable development policy creation and implementation in cities. She has 10-year history on the UN-Habitat file, including participating to Habitat II in Turkey.

Please note that Amelia's participation at the NAC is pending Minister's approval. His decision should be announced in a few weeks.

For more information visit the RCEN website. Or contact Chantal Bois at tel: (613) 728-9810 ext. 24.

4.

EVENTS

i.

45th Annual General Meeting of the Canadian Commission for UNESCO

When: March 10-12, 2005
Where: Delta Chelsea Hotel
33 Gerrard Street West Toronto, ON
Draft Program: Sustainable Development - Learning To Live Together

For more information, please visit the UNESCO website or contact: Alexis Philiptchenko
Canadian Commission for UNESCO
350 Albert St., P.O. Box 1047,
OTTAWA ON
K1P 5V8
Tel.: (613) 566-4414 / 1-800-263-5588, ext. 5555
Fax: (613) 566-4405

ii.

Celebrate the Wild Nahanni

When:Wednesday May 11, 2005
Doors open 6:00pm
Where: National Library and Archives auditorium
395 Wellington Street, Ottawa
Tickets: $10 in advance; $12 at the door

The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) presents an engaging evening in celebration of this great boreal river and World Heritage Site. Take part in the exciting opportunity to dramatically expand Nahanni National Park Reserve.

For more information, please visit the CPAWS website or contact them by tel: (613) 232-7297

iii.

Aboriginal Forum Conference on Alternative and Renewable Energy Projects with First Nations

Aboriginal Forum is organizing a conference on alternative and renewable energy projects with First Nations. The conference will discuss opportunities for First Nations to develop renewable energy resources on their lands and will provide information about the partnership opportunities and business development initiatives being undertaken to provide renewable energy in First Nation communities.

For more information or to register, please visit Aboriginal Forum’s web site.
Or contact Anne Osler at tel: (416) 925-0866 or toll-free 1(800) 443-6452.

iv.

A Protest Against the Annual Seal Hunt

Global Action Network invites you to join a protest against the annual seal hunt. Global Action Network, along with a coalition of other concerned organizations will be holding their first International Day of Action on March 15, 2005, at 12pm at Parliament Hill, in Ottawa.
Free transportation from Montreal. For more information contact Regina at: (514) 939-5525.

5.

RESOURCES

i.

Environment Canada Off-Road Compression-Ignition Engine Emission Regulations finalized

Environment Canada has finalized the Off-Road Compression-Ignition Engine Emission Regulations. The Regulations introduce emission standards for diesel engines used for off-road applications such as those typically found in construction, mining, farming and forestry machines.

The Regulations, published in the February 23, 2005 Canada Gazette Part II, can be accessed through the Environment Canada CEPA Registry.

The Regulations come into effect on January 1, 2006 and apply to 2006 and later model-year compression-ignition engines.

For more information, please contact Josephine O'Carroll at: tel. (819) 997-6755.

ii.

UK White Paper

The United Kingdom White Paper on their Energy Policy is now available on the RCEN website.

The UK White Paper sets out a strategy for the long term and is based on the four pillars of the environment: energy reliability, affordable energy for the poorest, and competitive markets for businesses, industries and households.

iii.

Report on vehicle GHG emissions / fuel-efficiency standards

Pollution Probe has just released a new report on motor vehicle GHG emissions / fuel efficiency standards. For those tracking the discussions between automakers and government, the report offers an excellent summary of the history and assessments of CAFE and CAFC standards, a review on the technologies available to improve fuel efficiency and reduce GHG emissions from vehicles.

To view this report please visit the Pollution Probe website.

iv.

Tools of Change Launches Interactive, Web-Based Environmental Social Marketing Workshops, Offers Some Free to Non-Profits

The Tools of Change Educational Institute, in collaboration with Cullbridge Marketing and Communications, has launched an ongoing series of web-based workshops (webinars) on environmental social marketing and public engagement.

For more information on these workshops, please visit the Cullbridge website.

6.

JOBS

i.

EECOM Executive Director

The Canadian Network for Environmental Education and Communication (EECOM) is seeking to engage an Executive Director for a nine month contractual position.

For more information on this posting, please visit the EECOM website.

For more information or to submit a resume and cover letter, please contact:

Grant A. Gardner, Chair, EECOM,
c/o Dean of Science Office,
Memorial University,
St. John’s, NL, A1B 3X7
Tel: 709-737-8155
Fax: 709-737-3316

ii.

Campaigns Director

Greenpeace is seeking a Campaigns Director. The Campaigns Director will manage, coordinate and provide leadership in all areas of Greenpeace Canada’s campaign strategies; participate as a member of the senior management team; manage the department (including staff supervision, budget development and control); and act as a national campaigns spokesperson in dealings with other national offices, Greenpeace International and the media.

The position is based at the national office in Toronto. The ideal start date is May 1, 2005. For a detailed job description please see the Greenpeace web site.

Please submit a cover letter and resume by March 18, 2005 to Wendy Wright, Human Resources Coordinator.