1.

Calls For Delegates

1. Workshop to review the NSNR provisions
2. VOC Content of Automotive Refinish Coatings

2.

Calls For Input / Calls For Participation

1. Call for Input - EPA Caucus Seeking Information on Public Reviews
2. Call for Input - Government Web-Based Pre-Budget Consultations
3. Call for Participation - Review of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement
4. Call for Participation - ENGO Sector Sustainability Tables Task Groups

3.

Announcements

1. RCEN and Environment Canada Conference Call on Risk-Based Management
2. Sustainable Design Competition

4.

Resources

1. Spring Issue of the EA Reporter Now Available

5.

Events

1. Sierra Club of Canada Biennial Conference

6.

Employment

1. Administrative and Accounting Assistant, RCEN

1.

Calls For Delegates

i.

Workshop to review the NSNR provisions

Environment Canada is seeking 10 ENGO delegates to attend a two-day multi-stakeholder workshop on the research and development exemptions and notification requirements for organisms other than micro-organisms under the New Substances Notification Regulations (NSNR) (Organisms) of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999. The workshops will take place on June 15-16, in Ottawa, Ontario. Travel, accommodation and meals will be covered as per Treasury Board Guidelines. Selected NGO delegates will each receive $900 for preparation time and for attending the two day workshop. The deadline to apply is Friday, April 28, 2006.

For more information, visit the RCEN website (URL) or contact Olivier Bertin-Mahieux, National Caucus Coordinator, tel.: (613) 728-9810 ext. 34.

ii.

VOC Content of Automotive Refinish Coatings

Environment Canada (EC) has asked the Canadian Environmental Network (RCEN) to select 3 ENGO representatives to attend a consultation on Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) content of automotive refinish coatings. This consultation is scheduled to take place on Friday, May 5th in Toronto, Ontario. The deadline to apply is Friday, April 14, 2006.

Travel, accommodations and meals will be covered by Treasury Board Guidelines. The 3 delegates will each receive $1,000 to review pre-consultation information, to participate in a conference call, to attend the May 5th, 2006 consultation, and to write one consolidated post-consultation report by June 7th, 2006. For more information, visit the RCEN website or contact Olivier Bertin-Mahieux, RCEN National Caucus Coordinator, tel.: (613) 728-9810 ext. 34.

2.

Calls For Input / Calls For Participation

i.

Call for Input - EPA Caucus Seeking Information on Public Reviews

Members of the Canadian Environmental Network's Environmental Planning and Assessment (EPA) Caucus' Public Participation Committee are looking for information/knowledge of any public review and/or consultation where a lead agency, regulator or proponent sought public input/feedback attendant to any environmental assessment. Please provide any subjective input about the nature of the process, how it worked, and its success or failures. Documented reports and/or records may be identified with sources. This information will allow the EPA Caucus to catalogue the factors affecting the outcome of a public participation process negatively or positively, and what kinds of issues will contribute to a strategic and effective public participation process. This data/evidence compiled will permit the construction of a template or checklist for parties to use when providing input into the scope and structure of any pubic participation process in the future.

Please forward any responses to Jannis Klein, EPA Caucus Coordinator

ii.

Call for Input - Government Web-Based Pre-Budget Consultations

The Federal Government has launched the very first web-based pre-budget consultation, encouraging Canadians to participate in the budget process online, by providing their views during the pre-budget consultation period. Specifically, the government is seeking advice on how best to implement the Government's five priorities and how the Government can spend less or deliver programs in a more efficient and effective way. Environmental groups are encouraged to take a few minutes to provide input on renewing federal subsidies for tax incentives and asking them to invest funds in research on environmental issues, such as mining impacts and metals recycling.

The Web consultation page and background document, can be found on the Department of Finance Canada website Submissions can be made by e-mail or by fax at (613) 992-0938. Views submitted via the Web will be provided to the Minister of Finance and held confidential.

iii.

Call for Participation - Review of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement

The Review of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA) is currently underway. In partnership with allies, Great Lakes United (GLU) developed guidance papers on issues identified as likely to come up in the Review. GLU have been careful not to draw conclusions as to the wisdom of opening the Agreement in favour of a broader discussion that includes ENGO input. The guidance papers invite ENGO participation on issue-specific calls aimed at fostering common recommendations.

Governments are also independently accepting applications to the formal Review Workgroups. To participate, contact Monica Lim. In addition to calls, GLU is holding a June conference in Toronto to increase the capacity of ENGOs to engage meaningfully in the Review, by way of discussing the breadth of work underway across the basin. ENGOs are invited to join GLU in building a strong coalition to protect and restore the world's largest freshwater ecosystem. For more information, contact Derek Stack, tel: (613) 797-9532.

iv.

Call for Participation - ENGO Sector Sustainability Tables Task Groups

The Canadian Environmental Network (RCEN) is seeking ENGO representatives that are members of RCEN Caucuses to take part in ENGO Sector Sustainability Tables (SST) Task Groups (TG) that will oversee ENGO involvement in the SST process. The Task Groups' main role will be to develop strategies, provide input, review reports and other documentation, and support existing and future RCEN delegates at the Tables. The current SST Task Groups are for the following sectors: Energy, Mining, Forest and Cross-Cutting. Participation is on a volunteer-basis only; participation will not be financially compensated.

Each Task Group meets once a month via teleconference. To join a TG fill in the relevant fields of the online application form and note which TG you wish to join. The deadline to submit your application form is Friday, April 14, 2006. For more information, contact Suzanne Boileau, tel.: (613) 728-9810 ext. 30.

3.

Announcements

i.

RCEN and Environment Canada Conference Call on Risk-Based Management

RCEN members are invited to take part in a teleconference on May 3rd, 2006 from 2:00–3:30 pm EST with Environment Canada (EC) regarding the Precautionary Principle and Risk-Based Management. A presentation will be given by EC senior management engaged on this issue, following by questions and discussion with RCEN members. This is the third in a series of regular conference calls between EC and RCEN.

To participate, contact Suzanne Boileau before April 26th, 2006. More information will be sent out as it becomes available. Please indicate your preferred language for the call. If a considerable amount of Francophones wish to participate, an additional call in French will be organized. For more information, contact Suzanne Boileau at (613)728-9810 ext. 30.

ii.

Sustainable Design Competition

Fw. Sustainable Design, Closing the Loop is a national design competition developed by the Cascadia Region Green Building Council in collaboration with the design community. Competition entries can be the introduction of a new element or system to "fill the gap" of present technology, or the re-design of existing. The goal is to eliminate the concept of 'waste' that exists in our current linear system of production and building; to conserve the resources of energy, water and materials; and to create change in the built environment through the development of the winning entries. The competition is open to all Canadian residents, and winning entries will be publicly exhibited with the opening exhibit currently scheduled to coincide with the World Urban Forum III in Vancouver in June 2006. The submission deadline is May 31, 2006. For more information, visit the Competition website.

4.

Resources

i.

Spring Issue of the EA Reporter Now Available

The spring issue of the EA Reporter, the Canadian Environmental Network's (RCEN) Environmental Planning & Assessment (EPA) Caucus newsletter is now available on the RCEN web site. For more information, please contact the EPA Caucus Coordinator, Jannis Klein (jannis@cen-rce.org), tel.: (613) 728-9810 ext. 25

5.

Events

i.

Sierra Club of Canada Biennial Conference

The Sierra Club of Canada is inviting ENGOs to participate to its biennial conference, People and the Planet: Changing Values for a Sustainable Future, taking place on June 9–11, 2006 at Saint Paul University in Ottawa, Ontario. Issues such as climate change, water, biodiversity, faith and social justice will be addressed in plenary sessions and workshops. Speakers will include: Elizabeth May, Paul Watson, Owens Wiwa, RH Thomson, Samuel Epstein, Jerry Mander, Holly Dressel, Ransom Myers, Andrew Nikiforuk, Bill Phipps, Guy Dauncey, Ron Colman and more. An outstanding environmental education programme for children will be run on-site as well as an EcoFair with exhibitors from NGOs, government and environmental business. Friday June 9th will feature a Kick-off Gala.

To register and for more information, visit the Conference Website.

6.

Employment

i.

Administrative and Accounting Assistant, RCEN

The Canadian Environmental Network (RCEN) is seeking an Administrative and Accounting Assistant to assist to the administration and accounting functions of the organization, such as: Prepare and record accounts payable and receivable; Assist the comptroller with the year-end financial audit; Maintain the RCEN database; Coordinate meetings and take minutes; Perform monthly bank reconciliations; Maintain required records, reports and files in an organized manner; Maintain telephone system, process mail and courier; Maintenance of office supplies, and other related duties. The chosen candidate will work under the supervision of the Executive Director. Qualifications include a college diploma or university degree in accounting and 2 years of previous bookkeeping experience. Excellent writing and verbal skills in both English and French are mandatory. The position is based in Ottawa.

The position is a contract with possibility for extension and benefits. The starting salary is $30,000. The deadline to apply is April 21, 2006 at 5:00pm EST. For more information, visit the RCEN website.

ii.