E-Bulletin — April 21, 2006 Edition

Contents

1.

Calls For Delegates
 
  1. Workshop to review the NSNR provisions
 

2.

Calls For Input / Calls For Comments / Calls For Participation
 
  1. Call for Participation—RCEN Task Group for Health Canada's VDD
  2. Call for Comments—Regulations Amending the Metal Mining Effluent Regulations (MMER)
  3. Call for Input—EPA Caucus Seeking Information on Public Reviews
 

3.

Announcements
 
  1. RCEN and Environment Canada Conference Call on Risk-Based Management 
 
       
 

4.

Resources
 
  1. Metcalf Foundation New Program Launch
  2. Teaching Green Book for Middle School Youth
 

5.

Events
 
  1. Americas' Bird Trek 2006
  2. Laidlaw Foundation Public Meeting on the Ornstein Report
 

6.

Employment
 
  1. Administrative and Accounting Assistant, RCEN
  2. Executive Director, Rainforest Foundation - US
       
     

 

 

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), contact Olivier Bertin-Mahieux, National Caucus Coordinator, tel.: (613) 728-9810 ext. 34, or consult Environment Canada's website.

 
 

2.

Calls For Input / Calls For Comments / Calls For Participation
 
i.
Call for Participation—RCEN Task Group for Health Canada's VDD

 

The Canadian Environmental Network (RCEN) is forming a task group to discuss issues, and establish priorities and strategies for ENGOs' participation in the Health Canada Veterinary Drugs Directorate (VDD) meetings. Maria Castro of the Beyond Factory Farming Coalition will represent RCEN ENGOs at the May 10-11, 2006 meeting.

The Task group will hold a conference call on Friday, May 5th at 2 pm EDT. If you wish to be part of this Task group, and communicate your comments and concerns, please contact Olivier Bertin-Mahieux, tel.: (613) 728-9810 ext. 34 as soon as possible.
 
 
ii.
Call for Comments—Regulations Amending the Metal Mining Effluent Regulations (MMER)

 

The proposed Regulations Amending the Metal Mining Effluent Regulations (MMER) have been posted on the Canada Gazette Part I, April 8, 2006, Vol. 140, No. 14 (page 771). The deadline to submit comments is May 7.

RCEN members are encouraged to submit comments to the Privy Council Office regarding the need to review alternatives to using new lakes (such as Trout Pond in Newfoundland) as tailings impoundment areas (TIAs); the fact that the fisheries assessment for Trout Pond was flawed; the risk of ground water contamination and the lack of aboriginal consultation for the inclusion of Trout Pond in the amendment. The addition of Trout Pond to the MMER amendments could set a precedent for using new lakes as TIAs all across Canada. For more information, go to the MiningWatch website or contact Sarah Heiberg, at (613) 728-9810 ext. 24. Please submit your comments to Patrick Finlay, Environment Canada, and copy Georgette Muller, PCO Policy Analyst, Sarah Heiberg and Joan Kuyek.
 
 
iii.
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.
 
 

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.
 
   

 
       
       
       
 
 

4.

Resources
 
i.
Metcalf Foundation New Program Launch

 

The Metcalf Foundation has launched a new program entitled Leaders in the Field. This new funding stream, housed within the Environment Program, is intended to develop, strengthen and celebrate exceptional leaders working on land use issues in Southern Ontario, the Boreal Forest and Northern Appalachians. The program will offer Field Fellowships to senior leaders, who can benefit from periods of professional development, reflection and renewal, and the flexibility to pursue opportunities not available under regular workplace demands. As well, the program will cultivate new leaders who have recently become engaged in the work; through structured internships the program will create productive entry points to mentoring and training.

Download the Environment Program 2006 Guidelines
For more information, visit the Metcalf Foundation website
 
 
ii.
Teaching Green Book for Middle School Youth

 

Green Teacher has launched the publication of the 240 page Teaching Green: The Elementary Years. Subtitled Hands-on Learning in Grades K-5 this large format paperback contains over 50 of the best teaching strategies and activities contributed to Green Teacher magazine during the past decade, all updated and revised for this anthology. Teaching Green: The Elementary Years was designed to serve as a complete green teaching resource for those working with middle school-aged youth, inside or outside of schools. Readers will find a wealth of kid-tested ideas contributed by educators from across North America and covering a wide spectrum of environmental topics, from exploring the natural world, caring for classroom animals and promoting citizenship.

To view the table of contents, read the introduction to the book, or obtain secure online ordering, visit the Green Teacher website. For more information contact Green Teacher, tel.: (416) 960-1244.
 
 

5.

Events
 
i.
Americas' Bird Trek 2006

 

Imagine thousands of children from Lesser Slave Lake in Alberta, to Quito, Ecuador, all going on a field trip to a nature center at the same time. Now imagine students visiting four nature centers - in Ecuador, Mexico, the U.S., and Canada — all during the same trip! As part of a major outreach campaign in spring 2006 centered around a hemisphere-wide celebration called International Migratory Bird Day, a consortium of non-profits and technology firms, led by Parks and Protected Areas a division of Alberta Community Development, Boreal Song Bird Initiative and SciQ, will host one of the world's most innovative combinations of Internet technology and environmental education to help celebrate this year's theme, the Boreal Forest. For more information, please visit the SciQ website.
 
 
ii.
Laidlaw Foundation Public Meeting on the Ornstein Report

 

 The Laidlaw Foundation is organizing a public meeting where Michael Ornstein will present the latest report from the Institute for Social Research at York University entitled Ethno-Racial Groups in Toronto, 1971-2001: A Demographic and Social Profile. All 20 of the poorest ethno-racial groups in the Toronto Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) are non-European, according to the study, Ethno-Racial Groups in Toronto, 1971-2001: A Demographic and Social Profile, released by the Institute for Social Research at York University. The report is based primarily on Statistics Canada's 2001 census, and compares those results with censuses of 1996, 1991, 1986, 1981, and 1971.

For more information, visit the Laidlaw Foundation 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 has been extended to April 28, 2006 at 5:00pm EST. For more information, visit the RCEN website.

 
 
ii.
Executive Director, Rainforest Foundation - US

 

 The Rainforest Foundation US (RF-US) is seeking an Executive Director (ED) who will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of RF-US and for developing and implementing a strategy that will expand the organization's financial and programmatic base. The ideal candidate will have an advanced degree preferred with a minimum of seven to ten years senior management experience, will be a leader in the field of human rights or environment with international experience, with a demonstrated track record of creating strategic plans for growth and successfully motivating board and staff as well as donors toward the fulfillment of organizational goals; has a demonstrated ability in organizational development, has Knowledge or background in indigenous rights, is able to speak Spanish and/or Portuguese. Salary commensurate with experience. Excellent benefits package. Position based in New York.

To apply, send your resume cover letter, salary requirements, and references via e-mail.
 
       
       
       

 

 
     

TOP

 

This publication includes information updates on network-related news and activities of national importance. We encourage you to make your own important contributions to this bulletin. Submissions should be written in English and French, be issue-specific, include contact information, and have a body content less than 50 words in length. Send your feedback and submissions to: bulletin@cen-rce.org.

For more information about the activities and issues of the Canadian Environmental Network’s (CEN) national caucuses, visit the CEN Web site. If you represent a CEN member group and would like to join a national caucus, please contact Manon Crôteau (manon@cen-rce.org). Organizational membership can be initiated or renewed by contacting your provincial or territorial affiliate network.