1.

Calls For Delegates

1. 14th Regular Session of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation Council
2. Stakeholder Consultations on the Regulatory Framework for Air Emissions
3. Forest Sector Sustainability Table Water Working Group
4. 12th Meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice to the Convention on Biological Diversity

2.

ACTION ALERTS

1. Send Input on Changes to the National Pollutant Release Inventory
2. Beyond Factory Farming Coalition Petition on Surveillance of Antibiotic Resistance in Livestock Production and Meat  

3.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

1. RCEN 30th Anniversairy Conference on Environment and Health   

4.

RESOURCES

1. Webcast: Comparative Analysis of Canadian, European Union and United States Policies on Industrial Chemicals
2. Report on the Medical Perspective on Environmental Sensitivities 

5.

CALLS FOR INPUT / COMMENTS / NOMINATIONS / PARTICIPATION

1. Call for Comments: Draft Binational Report Reviewing the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement   

6.

Events

1. CIELAP Knowledge Cluster Meeting on Nanotechnology
2. Canadian Environment Week Website Now Live
3. Alberta Environmental Network AGM & Athabasca Watershed Gathering
4. Commission for Environmental Cooperation Trinational Meeting on Developing Renewable Energy     

7.

Employment

1. Bilingual Executive Director,  Climate Action Network Canada   

1.

Calls For Delegates

i.

14th Regular Session of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation Council

The RCEN is seeking one (1) ENGO representative to attend the 14th Regular Session of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) Council and other concurrent events to be held from June 26-27, 2007 in Morelia, Michoacan, Mexico. During this session, the Council will consider a program of action to address environmental issues facing North America. Funding for travel and accommodation for this meeting will be confirmed by May 25, 2007. Should funding be approved, CEC will cover the cost of travel and accommodation, but not for the time spent at the meeting nor for any preparation time. The deadline to apply is May 21, 2007. If you are interested in participating, visit the RCEN website.
For more information, contact Leela Ramachandran, National Caucus Coordinator, telephone: (613) 728-9810 ext.

ii.

Stakeholder Consultations on the Regulatory Framework for Air Emissions

The RCEN has been invited to select a total of thirty (30) ENGO representatives for three upcoming meetings related to recent stakeholder consultations on the new Regulatory Framework for Air Emissions, in May and June 2007. The RCEN will select a total of ten (10) delegates to attend either of two identical meetings, in Ottawa or Vancouver, and a total of twenty (20) delegates to attend a follow-up NGO meeting in Ottawa. Environment Canada will cover travel, meals, accommodation and incidentals as per Treasury Board Guidelines, as well as a per diem of $250 per day for each meeting day attended. The deadline to apply is May 21, 2007. 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.

iii.

Forest Sector Sustainability Table Water Working Group

The RCEN is seeking one (1) ENGO Representative to participate in the Forest Sector Sustainability Table Water Working Group. Initial planning for the Water Working Group has forecasted three meetings by the end of 2007, with the first meeting likely in mid-late June. Environment Canada will reimburse eligible travel and accommodation costs associated with the representative’s attendance at Water Working Group meetings. The selected delegate will also be entitled to receive $1500.00 for the costs associated with preparing for and attending a full day meeting. The term length is yet to be confirmed. The deadline to apply is May 21, 2007. If you are interested in participating, visit the RCEN website.
For more information, contact Sarah Heiberg, National Caucus Coordinator, telephone: (613) 728-9810 ext. 224.

iv.

12th Meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice to the Convention on Biological Diversity

The RCEN is seeking one (1) ENGO representative to be part of the Canadian Delegation at the 12 th Meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA-12) to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), to be held in Paris, France,on July 2-6, 2007. Information about SBSTTA-12 including the provisional agenda and official documents can be found on the CBD Secretariat website. Environment Canada will reimburse the travel and accommodation expenses for the selected representative but will not cover any costs for the time spent at or preparing for the meeting. The deadline to apply is May 21, 2007. If you are interested in participating, visit the RCEN website.
For more information, contact Sarah Heiberg, National Caucus Coordinator, telephone: (613) 728-9810 ext. 224.

2.

Action Alerts

i.

Send Input on Changes to the National Pollutant Release Inventory

Environment Canada is considering changes to the National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI) that would go into effect for reports covering emissions and releases during the years 2008 and beyond. To obtain a copy of the NPRI report that these recommendations are based on, visit Environment Canada’s website and scroll down to ‘2006-2008 consultations’. The report’s title is “Report of the National Pollutant Release Inventory Multi-stakeholder Work Group on Substances: Draft Report”.
To read the detailed ENGO Action Alert, including key ENGO recommendations, where to send your comments, and additional views from the ENGO members of the NPRI Work Group, visit the RCEN website.

ii.

Beyond Factory Farming Coalition Petition on Surveillance of Antibiotic Resistance in Livestock Production and Meat

The Beyond Factory Farming Coalition (BFF) submitted a Petition to the Sustainable Development Commissioner seeking information about the federal government's performance regarding monitoring and surveillance of antibiotic resistance in livestock production and meat. They recently received a joint response from relevant federal departments and agencies.
Both the petition and the joint response are posted on BFF's home page at (scroll down on home page for links).

3.

Announcements

i.

RCEN 30th Anniversairy Conference on Environment and Health

The RCEN 2007 Annual Conference on the Environment & Annual General Meeting will take place on November 1-4, 2007 in Ottawa. The specific theme of this year’s conference will be Environment and Health. As well, the RCEN will celebrate its 30th Anniversary with an overview of the RCEN’s contribution to the protection of the environment over the past thirty years, while looking ahead to future challenges and successes.
More detailed information on the Conference, including the agenda and exact location, will be available on the RCEN website at the end of May in English and French. For further information, please contact Claire Sales, Office and Events Administrator, tel.: (613) 728-9810 ext. 221.

4.

Resources

i.

Webcast: Comparative Analysis of Canadian, European Union and United States Policies on Industrial Chemicals

ENGOs are invited to tune into a North American webcast featuring Dr. Richard Denison, Senior Scientist at Environmental Defense, who will present the findings and discuss his recent report, in cooperation with Canada NGO Pollution Probe, that critically compares the European Union's new REACH Regulation, the US Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), and the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA).
Best practices for and a comparison of how each of these policies address the following "core functions" will be presented, and implications of the findings for chemicals policy reform will be discussed.
To participate, please RSVP to Cathy Malina by Tuesday May 22, 2007.

ii.

Report on the Medical Perspective on Environmental Sensitivities

The Canadian Human Rights Commission (CHRC) has posted a new report entitled 'The Medical Perspective on Environmental Sensitivities,' by Margaret E. Sears (M.Eng., Ph.D.) on its website. The report confirms that avoidance of toxins and other triggers is key to management of environmental sensitivities.
To read the report, or for more information, visit the CHRC website.

5.

Calls for Input / Comments / Nominations / Participation

i.

Call for Comments: Draft Binational Report Reviewing the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement

The Great Lakes Binational Executive Committee has invited ENGOs to offer comments on a draft binational report reviewing the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA). The Review was commissioned by the Governments of Canada and the United States in response to a requirement to periodically review the operation and effectiveness of the Agreement. The draft 2007 Review Report documents the first major review of the Agreement in nearly twenty years. The public comment period will last from May 14, 2007 to July 14, 2007. The report, taking into consideration all comments received, will then be transmitted to the Governments of Canada and the U.S. to determine the next steps.
To submit comments or for more information, visit the Binational website.

6.

Events

i.

CIELAP Knowledge Cluster Meeting on Nanotechnology

CIELAP will be holding a Knowledge Cluster Meeting to discuss nanotechnology on May 31, 2007 from 5:30 to 7:00pm in Toronto. On March 16, 2007 CIELAP gathered members from a cross-section of perspectives, including government, industry, non-profits, and academics, to discuss how to move towards an appropriate policy framework for Nanotechnology. Out of the discussions CIELAP prepared its Discussion Paper on a Policy Framework for Nanotechnology. Susan Holtz, Senior Policy Analyst and author of the discussion paper, will use the May 16 Knowledge Cluster Meeting to discuss the framework and seek input from participants.
Please RSVP to Anne at anne@cielap.org or (416) 923-3529, ext. 25 if you are planning to attend.

ii.

Canadian Environment Week Website Now Live 

ENGOs are invited to be part of the Canadian Environment Week (CEW), taking place from June 3-9, 2007, to help promote and celebrate community action for the environment. Activities are being planned to encourage Canadians to take action, and to celebrate local successes. Environment Canada (EC) is inviting ENGOs to post their events on their Community Action Board for others to see and participate. EC will post all events received. ENGOs may also inform EC if they would like a CEW button to place on their website.
Requests to post events of for CEW buttons can be sent via e-mail to Eweek@ec.gc.ca.

iii.

Alberta Environmental Network AGM & Athabasca Watershed Gathering

This year, the Alberta Environmental Network (AEN) Annual General Meeting and Spring Caucus Meetings will be held in conjunction with the Athabasca Watershed Conference, from June 1-3, 2007 in Athabasca, Alberta.  The conference will offer an opportunity to support and strengthen existing groups and build new ones as they build and launch a coalition focusing on the protection of the Athabasca River. The weekend will include plenaries and panel discussions on water management in the province and for the Athabasca specifically.
Joint registration and additional information on the conference and AEN meetings are available on the AEN website.

iv.

Commission for Environmental Cooperation Trinational Meeting on Developing Renewable Energy

The Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) is inviting ENGOs to participate in “Fostering Renewable Energy in North America: Mexican Opportunities & Challenges, a trinational meeting on developing renewable energy in Mexico on June 4, 2007. Interested ENGOs should register directly with the CEC by May 18, 2007.
For more information and the registration form, visit the CEC website.

7.

Employment

i.

Bilingual Executive Director,  Climate Action Network Canada

The Climate Action Network/Reseau action climat (CAN-RAC) Canada is seeking a visionary professional for the position of Executive Director to provide leadership for the network and organization from its secretariat located in Ottawa. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director will be fluent in both official languages, have a good track record in Canadian fundraising, campaigning and/or advocacy experience, proven program and coalition development skills, and strong personnel and financial management experience. This is initially a half-time position, with the potential to move to full-time in the future. The deadline to apply is June 4, 2007.
For a complete job description, visit the CAN-RAC website.