1.

Calls For Delegates

1. Stakeholder Workshops on Chemicals Management Plan Challenge
2. ENGO Participation at the Forest Sector Sustainability Table 

2.

ACTION ALERTS

1. Send a Climate Change Valentine to Ottawa
2. Send Recommendations on CEPA to Senate Environment Committees  

3.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

1. Latest News on Government’s Chemicals Management Plan   

4.

RESOURCES

1. Youth Environmental Network: New Website and National Director 

5.

CALLS FOR INPUT / COMMENTS / NOMINATIONS / PARTICIPATION

1. Call for Input: RCEN 2007 Annual Conference on the Environment
2. Call for Comments: Risk Management Strategy for Mercury-containing Products   

6.

Events

1. Human Security and the Environment Policy Dialogue   

7.

Employment

1. Executive Director, Canadian Environmental Network
2. Director of Communications, Marketing and Development, Tree Canada   

1.

Calls For Delegates

i.

Stakeholder Workshops on Chemicals Management Plan Challenge

Environment Canada has asked the RCEN to select 4 ENGO representatives working on environmental health issues to attend the Stakeholder Workshops on Chemicals Management Plan Challenge on February 27, 2007 in Ottawa, Ontario. The objectives of the workshop are for federal officials to provide instructions on what information is being sought for the Challenge, how participants are to submit this information and associated timelines. Travel, accommodation and meals for meetings will be covered as per Treasury Board Guidelines. The deadline to apply is February 16, 2007. For more information, visit the RCEN website or contact Leela Ramachandran, telephone: (613) 728-9810 ext. 223.

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 for a meeting scheduled for March 23, 2007 in Ottawa. The term length for the selected ENGO is yet to be confirmed. The selected ENGO representative will be expected to participate in a preparatory task group conference call, to take minutes and represent the views of the ENGOs during the meeting, and write up a report following the meeting. The selected delegate will receive $500 per day of preparation and $500 per day of meeting, based on a 2:1 formula. Moreover, travel, accommodation and meals for meetings will be covered as per Treasury Board Guidelines. The deadline to apply has been extended to February 16, 2007. For more information, visit the RCEN website or contact Sarah Heiberg, telephone: (613) 728-9810 ext. 224.

2.

Action Alerts

i.

Send a Climate Change Valentine to Ottawa

Voters Taking Action on Climate Change (VTACC) are inviting ENGOs to send Valentines to government MPs to ask that they reduce green-house gas emissions, with a do-it-yourself Valentines Campaign Kit. The kit is available as a PDF download on the VTACC website and contains eight classic Valentines with climate change sentiments, with messages on the back addressed to government officials Dion, Harper, and Baird, asking for deep reductions in emissions. 
For more information, or to suggest sending a Valentine to a local MP, contact: climate_action@yahoo.ca.

ii.

Send Recommendations on CEPA to Senate Environment Committees

The Parliamentary Review of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA 1999) is wrapping up. Please send your Senate submissions by February 28, 2007 as the Committee must present its report no later than March 31, 2007. Senate submissions should be sent to the Committee Clerk, Keli Hogan. Please copy your submissions and letters to Kiriaki Cocolakis, CEPA Coordinator. To view ENGO Parliamentary Committee submissions, visit the RCEN website. For more information contact Kiriaki Cocolakis, tel.: (613) 728-9810 ext. 236.

3.

Announcements

i.

Latest News on Government’s Chemicals Management Plan

The government recently unveiled Canada's new Chemicals Management Plan. The plan takes immediate action to regulate chemicals that are harmful to human health or the environment. On February 3, 2007, the Government released a Notice in the Canada Gazette on the first group of substances entitled ‘Notice of first release of technical information relevant to substances identified in the challenge’. Industry and interested stakeholders were invited to submit any information concerning the extent and nature of the management of these substances. Subsequent groups of substances will be released every three months.
For more information, visit the federal government Chemicals Substance website.

4.

Resources

i.

Youth Environmental Network: New Website and National Director

The Youth Environemental Network (YEN) has recently launched their new and improved website and invite ENGOs to visit the page and forward the weblink to other ENGOs and youth in their community.
As well, the YEN has recently welcomed a new National Director, René Coignaud, who has recently returned from Paris where he was working as an intern for the Environmental Youth Alliance at the United Nations Environment Program. While at UNEP he was working on a sustainable consumption program for youth. To learn more about René or the YEN, please visit the YEN website or contact René via e-mail or tel.: (613) 728-9810 ext. 233.

5.

Calls for Input / Comments / Nominations / Participation

i.

Call for Input: RCEN 2007 Annual Conference on the Environment

The RCEN Conference Planning Committee is asking for your feedback on ideas for this year's conference themes. RCEN members are invited to send in their comments and suggestions, and to choose 3 preferred themes from the following list, in order of preference, and send them to Claire Sales, RCEN Accounting and Administrative Assistant, no later than February 23, 2007: 1) Celebration of RCEN’s 30 years of Successes, 2)The Use of Science and Knowledge by Government Agencies, 3) Health and the Environment, 4) Intergenerational Bridge-building: Involving Youth in the Environmental Movement, 5) Water, 6) Interaction between Science and Government  Agencies, and the Involvement of Youth, 7) Ecosystem Health, 8) Raising the Bar - Strategies for Success in the Environmental Movement.
For more information, contact Claire Sales, tel: (613) 728-9810 ext. 221.

ii.

Call for Comments: Risk Management Strategy for Mercury-containing Products

Environment Canada has published a Risk Management Strategy for Mercury-containing Products (RMS). The RMS proposes the development of a mix of rish management instruments to reduce mercury releases to the environment from products to the lowest possible levels. The RMS considers prohibition or limits for existing products and new products, labelling requirements, waste management and extended producer responsibility. The RMS is currently available on Environment Canada’s website. ENGOs are invited to provide written comments on the RMS by March 31, 2007 to: Raihan Butt, tel.: (819) 934-8079.

6.

Events

i.

Human Security and the Environment ­Policy Dialogue

One Sky and the Canadian Environmental Network (RCEN) will be holding a one-day policy think tank on human security and the environment in Ottawa on Thursday February 22, 2007. The meeting will bring together environmental NGOs, academia and government to discuss the nexus between environment, human well being and security using an ecological governance and integral theory approach. The meeting will provide an overview of current thinking on the subject and explore potential avenues for future conceptual frameworks. Based on the work of the Integral Institute and the Polis Project the meeting will serve as a discussion forum to further our understanding of these two frameworks. More information on the meeting can be found on the One Sky website, where interested readers can also find a background discussion paper. The meeting is by invitation only. Interested individuals should contact Michael Simpson, tel.: (510) 552-1164 as soon as possible.

7.

Employment

i.

Executive Director, Canadian Environmental Network

The RCEN is seeking a dynamic and proven executive with seasoned leadership skills to fill the position of: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
If you are passionate about the environment and thrive in a lively and fast-paced workplace, this is an opportunity to champion the cause in Ottawa. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director will assist and facilitate RCEN members and Regional Affiliates in achieving their goals both individually and collectively within their own communities, nationally and internationally. Working closely with grassroots organizations to high-ranking government officials, the Executive Director will ensure the implementation of the agreed vision, goals, plans and policies. The successful candidate will have a proven record as a strategic thinker and manager, and an ability to work cooperatively and lead a dedicated and hardworking team in a small, dynamic organization. S/he will have a solid command of English and French. The deadline to apply is April 9, 2007.
To read the full job description visit the RCEN website.

ii.

Director of Communications, Marketing and Development, Tree Canada

Ottawa-based Tree Canada is seeking an energetic and motivated individual to lead its national communications, marketing and development efforts. As an individual motivated by the environment, the Director will be responsible for a results-oriented marketing plan to implement Tree Canada’s strategic direction and long term vision. This includes an increased awareness of the Tree Canada brand and its programs as well as revenue generation activities such as sponsorships, donations, events and fee-for-service opportunities. Individuals looking for a challenge and an opportunity to shape a unique and creative environmental organization are invited to apply by February 16, 2007.
To read the detailed job description, visit the Tree Canada website.