1.

Calls For Delegates

1. Pest Management Advisory Council (PMAC) 

2.

ACTION ALERTS

1. Environmental Defense Campaign to Save Ontario’s Species
2. Earth Day Demonstrations in Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto

3.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

1. New Groundbreaking Report on Mining, Oil and Gas Companies   

4.

RESOURCES

1. StatsCan’s Latest Annual Compendium on Human Activity and the Environment
2. Health Products and Food Branch Strategic Plan 2007-2012 

5.

CALLS FOR INPUT / COMMENTS / NOMINATIONS / PARTICIPATION

1. Call for Participation: RCEN Teleconference Update on the CEPA Review
2. Call for Input: Definition of Biosolids to Present to the CFIA
3. Call for Comments: Draft Environmental Performance Agreement Regarding Locomotive Emissions

6.

Events

1. First International Meeting of the Task Force on Education for Sustainable Consumption
2. Cross-Canada Tour, Journey to the Yukon’s Three Rivers   

7.

Employment

1. Executive Director, RCEN
2. Office Manager, One Sky
3. Field Coordinator, Canadian Waterkeepers  

1.

Calls For Delegates

i.

Pest Management Advisory Council

The Canadian Environmental Network (RCEN) is seeking one (1) delegate to participate to a Pest Management Advisory Council (PMAC). The Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) provides the secretariat function for PMAC, a multi-stakeholder group that fosters communication and dialogue among stakeholders and with PMRA, and provides advice directly to the Minister of Health on policies and issues relating to the federal pest management regulatory system. No honorarium is paid to members, however Health Canada will cover the selected delegate’s costs related to travel, accommodations, meals and incidentals, as per Treasury Board Guidelines. The deadline to apply is April 6, 2007 at noon EDST. If you are interested in participating, visit the RCEN website.
For more information, contact Leela Ramachandran, National Caucus Coordinator, telephone: (613) 728-9810 ext. 223.

2.

Action Alerts

i.

Environmental Defense Campaign to Save Ontario’s Species

Environmental Defense is inviting ENGOs and individuals to send a free message to help ensure Ontario leads the country in the protection of endangered plants and animals. The government has introduced an updated Endangered Species Act; if the Act is passed, it will become the best endangered species law in Canada. Environmental Defence and their Save Ontario’s Species campaign partners are working to make sure the draft Act becomes law and are asking for help to make it happen. Send a free fax by April 19, 2007 to Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources or visit the Save Ontario’s Species Campaign website for more information. (Note: To submit comments online, visit the government of Ontario’s environmental online registry and enter Registry # AB06E6001).

ii.

Earth Day Demonstrations in Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto

Environmental groups are currently organising a series of demonstrations in support of Earth Day on April 22, 2007 in Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto to show support for action to combat global warming. To join other concerned citizens in any of these marches, or for more information, contact the Sierra Youth Coalition via e-mail.

3.

Announcements

i.

New Groundbreaking Report on Mining, Oil and Gas Companies

A new report on Mining, Oil and Gas Companies has been released, indicating that Canada could become a world leader on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). The report comes out of a ten month government-led roundtable process. If implemented, the CSR framework would establish standards and reporting obligations for Canadian companies and would create an ombudsman office to investigate and assess complaints, and to evaluate compliance with the standards. To read the report, visit the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade website.
For more information, contact Pierre Gratton, Mining Association of Canada, tel.: (613) 233-9392 ext. 319.

4.

Resources

i.

StatsCan’s Latest Annual Compendium on Human Activity and the Environment

Statistics Canada (StatsCan) has released its latest annual compendium, Human Activity and the Environment (HAE 2006). HAE 2006 features an in-depth study, Transportation in Canada, as well as updated highlights and tables on population, economic activities and the environment, with an exclusive focus on Canadian data. The book is available for purchase or as a free download on the StatsCan website. For more information, or to sign up to evaluate a new publication, Canadian Environmental Sustainability Indicators 2006, contact StatsCan via e-mail or telephone: 1(800)267-6677.

ii.

Health Products and Food Branch Strategic Plan 2007-2012

The Health Products and Food Branch (HPFB) Strategic Plan 2007-2012 is now available on Health Canada’s website. The plan sets out six inter-related strategies that will guide Health Canada in the next five years. A Progress Report on the HPFB 2004-2007 Strategic Plan is also being released with this new plan. Recognizing the pressing need to modernize their approach to regulating health products and food, HPFB launched a comprehensive review in the fall of 2006, the Blueprint for Renewal. Blueprint II completes their Strategic Plan by providing a longer term roadmap for transforming Canada’s regulatory system so that it can meet the challenges and complexities of the future. To consult the above-mentioned documents, visit Health Canada’s website, or for more information, send an e-mail or tel: (613) 941-5366.

5.

Calls for Input / Comments / Nominations / Participation

i.

Call for Participation: RCEN Teleconference Update on the CEPA Review

The RCEN will hold a teleconference next Wednesday, April 11, 2007 at 3:00pm Eastern Time, to update members on the status of the CEPA Review. This call is open to all RCEN members in good standing. The draft agenda currently includes the following items: Debriefing on RCEN member submissions to CEPA review; What is expected from the Standing Committee Report; ENGO response to report; Senate Committee process, and; Clean Air Act implications for CEPA Review.
If you would like to join the call, contact Leela Ramachandran, RCEN Toxics Caucus Coordinator, tel.: (613) 728-9810 ext. 223 by Tuesday, April 10. Call-in details will be sent out next week. The call will take place in English.

ii.

Call for Input: Definition of Biosolids to Present to the CFIA

As part of its effort to improve control over fertilizers and related products, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is working with an industry-run consultative body called the Canadian Fertilizer Products Forum (CFPF). Two sub-groups under the CFPF, the Biosolids Working Group and the Labelling Sub Committee, are trying to find an acceptable definition of "biosolids" to present to the CFIA. Some possible definitions include: a generic term for all sorts of organic wastes; sludges in general (municipal, industrial, etc.); processed sludges in general (with reduced pathogens); processed municipal sludge only.
To send your input or for further details, contact John Burcombe, Mouvement au courant, tel.: (514) 937-8283.

iii.

Call for Comments: Draft Environmental Performance Agreement Regarding Locomotive Emissions

Environment Canada (EC), Transport Canada (TC) and the Railway Association of Canada (RAC) have agreed on a draft Environmental Performance Agreement which is, in essence, an Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that meets the criteria of EC’s policy framework for Environmental Performance Agreements. The Environmental Performance Agreement establishes a framework through which the RAC, its member companies, EC, and TC will address emissions of criteria air contaminants and greenhouse gases from railway locomotives operated by Canadian railway companies in Canada. The MOU is posted on Environment Canada's CEPA Registry website for a 15-day consultation period. ENGOs and individuals are invited to forward their comments before April 20, 2007 via e-mail.
 For more information, you may also contact Don Stewart, Chief, Analysis and Policy, at (819) 934-2233.

6.

Events

i.

First International Meeting of the Task Force on Education for Sustainable Consumption

The First International Meeting of the Task Force on Education for Sustainable Consumption will take place from 16 to 17 April 2007 in Genoa (Italy). The task force was launched by Italy during the fourtheen session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD-14). The meeting will serve to share best practices in the field of education for sustainable consumption and to develop an international work plan for the task force (2007-2009). The meeting will gather together experts from government agencies, national and international organisations working on policies and initiatives linked to education as well as a number of representatives of NGOs. For more information, visit the UNEP website.

ii.

Cross-Canada Tour, Journey to the Yukon’s Three Rivers

Canadian Parks and Wilderness Canada (CPAWS) is organizaing a Cross-Canada tour, Journey to the Yukon’s Three Rivers, a special event featuring stunning landscape and wildlife images, art, and songs inspired by the Yukon’s Three Rivers - the Snake, Wind and Bonnet Plume - presented on film and in person by guest speaker Juri Peepre of the Yukon. The event will take place between April 11 and May 17 2007, to support the conservation of one of the world’s great wildnerness areas. Individuals attending a local event can enter to win a trip down one of the Three Rivers or a Yukon Adventure.
For more information, visit the CPAWS website or contact Jill Sturdy, CPAWS, (613) 569-7226 ext. 232.

7.

Employment

i.

Executive Director, RCEN

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. 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.

Office Manager, One Sky

One Sky is looking for an office manager with strong financial bookkeeping, computer and management skills to support their core staff in project management, administration and financial management. They require someone adept at Quickbooks (non-profit version) who is able to work fluidly with various software programs. The successful candidate will have a keen desire to help streamline their operations and become more efficient in their day-to-day practices. The selected candidate will help run a complex system of accounts, international transfers, records and receipts, keep track of timesheets, stay on top of computer back-ups, filing and the mail. The deadline to apply is May 1, 2007. For more information, visit the One Sky website (job offer to be posted shortly).

iii.

Field Coordinator, Canadian Waterkeepers

The Canadian Waterkeepers are seeking a full-time Field Coordinator to operate out of the Lake Ontario Waterkeeper office in Toronto. The Canadian Field Coordinator will support Waterkeeper Alliance’s member programs based in Canada and facilitate their working together on clean water issues. The Canadian Field Coordinator will have three areas of responsibility: Waterkeeper networking & capacity building; Waterkeeper support; Waterkeeper recruitment. The deadline for applications is Friday, April 13, 2007 at 5pm.
For more information, visit the Canadian Waterkeeper website.