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. Statement Of Canadian Practice On Marine Seismic Activity

3.

EVENTS

1. Aboriginal Forum Conference on Alternative and Renewable Energy Projects with First Nations
2. The Ontario Environmental Network (OEN) Spring Eco-Gathering 2005
3. Home and Native Land: Protecting the Environment Through Indigenous Rights and Partnerships
4. Canada Consortium on Workplace Health and Safety Summer Institute 2005

4.

JOBS

1. Demonstration Garden Manager

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.

Statement Of Canadian Practice On Marine Seismic Activity

The Government of Canada and the Provinces of British Columbia, Newfoundland and Labrador and Nova Scotia have released for public comment a draft Statement of Canadian Practice on the mitigation of potential seismic impacts in the marine environment.

The Statement of Canadian Practice is a collaborative initiative among provinces and Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Natural Resources Canada and Indian and Northern Affairs Development Canada. It is aimed at creating consistency and clarity in academic and industrial marine seismic applications. When finalized, the Statement will establish the environmental protection rules that must be followed when conducting any seismic work in the marine environment in Canada.

For more information on the draft Statement of Canadian Practice please visit the Fisheries and Oceans Canada website.

The public will have 60 days to examine the Statement of Canadian Practice and submit comments.

3.

EVENTS

i.

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: www.aboriginalforum.com
Or contact Anne Osler at tel: (416) 925-0866 or toll-free 1(800) 443-6452.

ii.

The Ontario Environmental Network (OEN) Spring Eco-Gathering 2005

This year's Eco-Gathering is being organized by the OEN Waste, Labour and Forest Caucuses. All OEN Member Groups are welcome to attend. If you are not from an a OEN Member Group but are interested in attending, please contact us for details.

When: April 2, 2005
Where: Morning - Oakville Community Centre for Peace, Ecology and Human Rights
148 Kerr Street, Oakville, Ontario

Afternoon - Halton Eco Festival at the Glen Abbey Rec Centre
1415 Third Line in Oakville, north of the QEW, Bus #28

For more information and registration on this event, please visit the OEN website.

iii.

Home and Native Land: Protecting the Environment Through Indigenous Rights and Partnerships

When: Wednesday, April 6, 2005, 9:30 AM - noon,
Where: 215 Spadina Avenue, Toronto, ON

This workshop addresses the barriers to effectively partnering indigenous rights and communities with ENGOs expertise, and provides productive measures to realize the objective of working together to build, exponentially, on what each has to offer.

For more information about this workshop please visit the
Sustainability Network website.

This half-day session is free but pre-registration is required. Please provide your name and affiliation to Shehrina at info@sustain.web.ca if you wish to participate.

iv.

Canada Consortium on Workplace Health and Safety's (CIHR) Summer Institute 2005

When: June 5-10, 2005
Where: Rocky Harbour, Newfoundland
For Whom: Students currently enrolled in a Master's or PhD program or hold a postdoctoral fellowship at a Canadian University.

The Summer Institute's overarching theme is "Rural and Remote Health Research: Rhetoric and Reality" and it's aim is to provide a complementary training opportunity to students in applied health services and policy and/or population and public health research across disciplines, sectors, and institutions, by bringing together researchers, decision-makers, and community learners from across Canada and from a variety of disciplines.

For more information, please visit the Safety Net website.

Registration Deadline: March 23, 2005

For more information please contact Gunita Wadhwa:
Tel: (709) 777-8747

4.

JOBS

i.

Demonstration Garden Manager

The Rooftop Garden Project (a joint initiative of Alternatives and Santropol Roulant) is seeking a motivated and energetic candidate to join our team as the Demonstration Garden Manager.

This community-based initiative addresses food security, environmental health and poverty issues through promoting a novel approach to inner-city greening. By joining our team, the successful candidate will have a unique opportunity to become familiar with an exciting new environmental solution, developed through an on-going international exchange, while working closely in a dynamic and committed team of colleagues and volunteers.

For more information about The Rooftop Garden Project, please visit the Santropolroulant website.

Please send a cover letter and a brief resume to : jardins@alternatives.ca
Or by mail to : The Rooftop Garden Project #300, 3720 ave. du Parc Montréal, QC, H2X 2J1

Deadline for Applications : 5pm, March 31, 2005