1. |
Call FOR DELEGATES |
i. |
ENGO Face-to-Face and Cross-Caucus Meetings on Environment Canada’s SSTs
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The RCEN is seeking up to 30 ENGO representatives to take part in an ENGO face-to-face meeting on March 2 to discuss further involvement in the Sector Sustainability Tables (SSTs), and cross-caucus meeting on March 3, 2006. The deadline to apply is Friday, February 3, 2006.
The all-day face-to-face meeting will take place on March 2nd, 2006 and will allow ENGOs to receive updates on all the current SST processes, to discuss further ENGO involvement and to have a presentation from the government on next steps. On March 3rd, there will be a half-day cross-caucus meeting which will provide caucus representatives with a forum for discussing common issues and exploring collaboration opportunities.
Travel, accommodation and meals will be covered as per Treasury Board Guidelines. To apply or obtain more information, visit the RCEN website.
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ii. |
ENGO participation at the Forest Sector Sustainability Table |
Environment Canada has asked the RCEN to select 1 ENGO representative for the Forest Sector Sustainability Table (FSST). The deadline to apply is Friday, January 13, 2006.
The FSST inaugural meeting is scheduled for February 7, 2006 in Montreal. The selected participant will receive an honorarium of $500 per day of preparation and $500 per day for meetings and conference calls. Also travel, accommodation and meals will be covered as per Treasury Board Guidelines.
See the full Call for Delegates on the RCEN website for more information, including the draft Terms of reference, the selection criteria and the application form. For more information, contact Sarah Heiberg, tel.: (613) 728-9810 ext. 24. |
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iii. |
ENGO participation to consultation on Perfluorocarboxylic Acids |
Environment Canada has asked the RCEN to select 4 ENGO representatives for a consultation on regarding Perfluorocarboxylic Acids and their Precursors. The deadline to apply is Monday, January 16, 2006.
The consultation will take place on February 7, 2006 in Ottawa. A half-day information session will also be held on February 6th. Each selected participant will receive an honorarium of $300 per day of preparation and $300 per day for meetings and conference calls. Also, travel, accommodation and meals will be covered as per Treasury Board Guidelines.
See the full Call for Delegates on the RCEN website. For more information, contact Olivier Bertin Mahieux, tel.: (613) 728-9810 ext. 34. |
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2. |
CALL FOR PARTICIPATION |
i. |
Civil Society Forum For Cop 8 Of The CDB In Curitiba |
The Brazilian Forum of NGOs and Social Movements for the Environment and the Development (FBOMS) with more than 500 members from all across Brazil, are calling on civil society organizations and social and popular movements all across the world to participate in the Civil Society Forum during the Third Meeting of the Parties (MOP 3) of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, and the Eight Conference of the Parties (COP 8) of the Convention on Biologic Diversity, which will take place between 13 and 30 March, in Curitiba, Brazil.
More information will soon be available on the FBOMS website or send an email to: coordenacao@fboms.org.br
More information on MOP 3 in Curitiba and COP 8 in Curitiba |
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3. |
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS |
i. |
Third Young Leaders in Rural Canada Awards |
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Rural Secretariat is seeking nominations of young rural Canadians (18 to 29 years old) who have demonstrated outstanding achievements and contributions to rural, remote and northern Canada, at the local, regional and/or national level, for the third Young Leaders in Rural Canada Awards. A commemorative Award will be presented in each of the following categories: Innovation, Leadership and Partnership. To be considered, submissions must be received/post-marked no later than Monday, January 30, 2006. For more information, visit the Rural website.
For additional information or assistance, contact Sylvie Chartrand, Rural Secretariat, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, tel.: 1(888)781-2222, fax: 1(800)884-9899. |
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4. |
CALLS FOR COMMENTS |
i. |
Proposed Crown Corporations Involved in the Provision of Commercial Loans Environmental Assessment Regulations |
The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency is working in collaboration with Business Development Bank of Canada and Farm Credit Canada to develop a regulation assisting them in complying with the obligations of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act as of June 11, 2006. In April 2005, the Agency invited members of the RCEN to comment on a framework document outlining the regulatory proposal.
The proposed Crown Corporations Involved in the Provision of Commercial Loans Environmental Assessment Regulations have now been published in the Canada Gazette, Part I on December 31, 2005. The public, as well as members of the RCEN, have 30 days to submit comments. Comments received no later than January 30, 2006 will be taken into account before the amendments are finalized and the regulations come into force on June 11, 2006.
The news release can be found on the Agency’s Web site. Direct comments to John Smith, Director, Legislative and Regulatory Affairs, CEAA, 160 Elgin Street, 22nd Floor, Ottawa ON, K1A 0H3, tel.: (613) 948-1942, fax: (613) 957-0897. |
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ii. |
Proposed Amendments to the Exclusion List Regulations under CEAA |
The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA) invites the public to comment on proposed amendments to the Exclusion List Regulations under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. Comments received by January 31, 2006 will be considered when preparing the regulations for final approval.
The proposed changes would "significantly reduce unnecessary environmental assessment screenings and redirect human and financial resources to projects with the potential to cause significant environmental effects". The proposed amendments were published in the Canada Gazette, Part I on December 17, 2005. The public should address their comments to: John D. Smith, Director, Legislative and Regulatory Affairs, 161 Elgin Street, 22nd Floor, Ottawa ON, K1A 0H3, Tel.: (613) 948-1942. More details are available on the CEAA website |
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5. |
ACTION ALERTS |
i. |
Sign-on support requested - NGO Position Paper on Government Directive on Regulating |
As part of the Government of Canada’s Smart Regulation initiative, the Privy Council Office (PCO) is proposing reform of federal regulatory policy and process. In particular, PCO is developing a proposed Government Directive on Regulating (GD-R), which would replace the current (1999) Regulatory Policy for Canada.
The Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA) has prepared a position paper on the draft GD-R. Many CEN member groups have already signed on. Support from NGOs and other public interest groups is currently being sought, with the deadline for sign-on being Friday, January 13.
To read the paper, click here
To sign on to the paper, or for more information, contact Hugh Benevides at hughb@magma.ca
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6. |
EVENTS |
i. |
Lecture on Environmental Coffee and International Trade |
Ottawa University’s Institute of the Environment is organizing a lecture entitled “Environmental Coffee and International Trade”, to take place at Ottawa University on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 at 4:00pm at the Fauteux Hall, Room 147. The speakers at the lecture will be William Kennedy, Executive Director, Chantal-Line Carpentier, Head of Environment-Economy-Trade, and Katia Opalka, Legal Officer, of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation. A question period will follow. Light refreshments will be served at the end of the conference.
For more information, call (613) 562-5895, e-mail or visit the Ottawa University website |
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ii. |
Sixth Session of the United Nations Forum on Forests |
The United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) will hold its fifth session from 13-24 February in New York City. This year the Forum will review implementation and assess needs and changes for the future of the international arrangement on forests.
As the RCEN has consultative status with the ECOSOC, RCEN members are invited to participate in the Commission. If you are interested in attending the UNFF, please provide your name/organization name and contact information to Manon Crôteau, tel.: (613) 728-9810 ext. 29 by no later than 20 January 2006. All travel, visas, accommodation and daily subsistence costs are the exclusive responsibility of the participants themselves. For additional information regarding the session, including all official documents, please consult the UNFF website |
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