CEN Cross-Caucus Workshop

Sam Jakes Inn, Merrickville, Ontario
February 17-19, 2004

AGENDA

WORKSHOP GOALS

• To enhance CEN members’ collective capacity to intervene effectively in the development of environmental policy,
• To begin the development of effective strategies for influencing the CEPA , CHPA and Harmonization Accord reviews.

DAY ONE – TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2004

3:00pm Registration

5:30pm Reception – Lock 21 Bar (Sponsored by the Mining Association of Canada)

6:00 – 6:10pm Introductions: Michael van Aanhout, workshop facilitator, Stratos – Dining Room

*6:10 – 7:40pm Networking dinner (note – dinner will be served once everyone has arrived – so please be prompt)

*7:40 – 8:00pm Overview of the Workshop Goals and Scope: Paul Muldoon, ED, CELA, Chair, CEN Toxics Caucus – Kilmarnock Room

*8:00pm Plenary – Key and upcoming issues from a federal perspective:
Dr. Barry Stemshorn, Assistant Deputy Minister, Environment Canada

Session Objective: Provide the CEN with EC’s perspective on issues such as:

• Emerging priorities for EC,
• Objectives for the Harmonization and CEPA reviews,
• Impacts of structural changes at Environmental Protection Services.

* note the change in time

DAY TWO – WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2004

7:30am Breakfast – Dining Room (buffet)

8:30am Adoption of the agenda: facilitator – Kilmarnock Room

8:40 – 9:40am Perspectives on effective ENGO interventions: Facilitated panel followed by questions and answers

Session Objective: Introduce government and ENGO perspectives on lessons learned about effective intervention strategies. Issues to be addressed include:

• Lessons learned about ENGO participation in the development of domestic environmental law, policy and non-regulatory measures,
• Lessons learned about ENGO relations with other government departments.

Panel

James Riordan, RD, National Office of Pollution Prevention, EC

• An EC perspective on effective ENGO interventions with EC and with other federal government departments

Joan Kuyek, National Coordinator, Mining Watch Canada

• Lessons learned about influencing policies related to mining and metals, including international context, linkages with other government departments, and cross-caucus coordination issues

Martha Kostuch, Prairie Acid Rain Coalition

• Lessons learned about influencing policies related to harmonization, including international context, linkages with other government departments, and cross-caucus coordination issues

Matthew Bramley, Director, Climate Change, Pembina Institute

• Lessons learned about influencing policies related to climate change, including international context, linkages with other government departments, and cross-caucus coordination issues

Paul Muldoon, ED and Counsel, Canadian Environmental Law Association

• Lessons learned about influencing policies related to POPs and toxics, including international context, linkages with other government departments, and cross-caucus coordination issues

John Arseneau, DG, Risk Assessment Directorate

• Opportunities for ENGO intervention into risk assessment processes under CEPA 99

9:40 – 10:15am Questions and answers

10:15 – 10:30 Health break

10:30 – 11:00 EC’s Plans For the CEPA 1999 Five-Year Review: Cynthia Wright, DG, Strategic Priorities, EC

Session Objective: Introduce EC’s planned process and desired outcomes of the forthcoming five-year review of CEPA 1999.

11:00 – 12:00 Towards more effective ENGO interventions in domestic environmental policy: break-out groups

Session Objective: Identify lessons learned about effective intervention strategies that are applicable to forthcoming interventions, including in particular the CEPA, CHPA and Harmonization Accord reviews.

This discussion will draw on participants’ personal experience as well as on backgrounders prepared on current specific issues.

Questions to consider when reflecting on lessons learned include:

• What are the pre-requisites for effective participation in consultation processes?
• When are alternatives to consultation likely to be effective?
• What are the most effective ways to ensure that environmental considerations influence decisions by federal departments other than EC?
• How can CEN members most effectively coordinate their activities among related processes?

NOTE – Please be prepared for this session.

12:00 – 1:00pm Lunch – Dining Room (served at table – please be prompt)

1:00 – 2:25pm Towards more effective ENGO interventions in domestic environmental policy (continued)

2:25 – 2:30pm Thanking EC participants (Steve Rison, Chair, Board of Directors, CEN)

2:30 – 2:45pm Health break

2:45 – 4:00pm Consolidation of lessons learned: facilitated discussion

Session Objective: Consolidation of lessons learned from previous sessions (i.e., what we have learned from one another and from EC about how to influence policy most effectively).

4:00 – 5:00pm Cross-Caucus Communication: open facilitated discussion

Session Objective: Identify a mechanism whereby caucuses can establish and maintain regular, streamlined communication with each other.

5:30 – 6:30pm Informal networking / reception – Lock 21 Bar (Sponsored by the Mining Association of Canada

6:30 – 8:00pm Dinner – Dining Room (note – dinner will be served once everyone has arrived – so please be prompt)

DAY THREE – THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2004

7:30am Breakfast – Dining Room (buffet)

8:30 – 8:35am Introduction to Health Caucus Involvement in CHPA: Arciris Garay, Co-chair, CEN Health Caucus – Kilmarnock Room

8:35 – 9:00am Overview of the Canadian Health Protection Act (CHPA) review: Michelle Swenarchuk, CELA

Session Objective: Describe the process and present the preliminary ENGO position.

9:00 – 10:30am Strategizing for the CHPA review: break-out groups

Session Objective: Provide input on CHPA draft ENGO position:

• Purpose, values and guiding principles,
• Risk assessment/precautionary principle,
• General Safety requirement,
• Standard setting (including ‘international responsibilities’),
• GM food and water quality (federal water quality),Health surveillance, research, information, enforcement.

10:30 – 10:45 Health Break

10:45 – 11:30 Plenary presentation of CHPA break-out groups’ results

Session Objective: Consolidate preliminary ENGO positions on key issues related to the CHPA review.

11:30 – 12:30 Lunch – Dining Room (served at table – please be prompt)

12:30 – 1:15pm Introduction to ENGO plans regarding the CEPA and Harmonization reviews:

• Current ENGO efforts for the Harmonization review – Joan Kuyek, Mining Watch Canada
• Current ENGO efforts for the CEPA review – Paul Muldoon, CELA

Session Objective: Describe the processes and present preliminary ENGO plans for and positions on these reviews.

1:15 – 3:00pm Strategizing for the CEPA and Harmonization Accord reviews: break-out groups

Session Objective: Identify:

• Preliminary ENGO positions on key issues related to the CEPA 1999 and Harmonization Accord reviews,
• Preliminary strategies for effective ENGO participation in these reviews.

3:00 – 3:15pm Health Break

3:15 – 3:55pm Plenary presentation of CEPA and Harmonization review break-out groups’ results

Session Objective: Consolidate preliminary ENGO positions on key issues and strategies related to the CEPA 1999 and Harmonization Accord reviews.

3:55pm Closing Remarks (Steve Rison, Chair, Board of Directors, CEN)

4:00pm Meeting adjourned

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