| Montreal, 8/01/2002 – On behalf of the Expert Advisory Board on Children's Health and the Environment in North America and the Joint Public Advisory Committee (JPAC) of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC), we would like to invite North American citizens to participate in a public meeting to be held at the Sheraton Maria Isabel Hotel on 7 March in Mexico City.
Guided by CEC Council Resolution 00-10, which stated that "children are not little adults and that there is abundant scientific evidence that children are particularly vulnerable to many environmental hazards in the air they breathe, the water they drink, the food they eat and the environment in which they live, learn, and play," the main objective of this meeting is to receive your comments on the draft cooperative agenda to better protect the health of North America's children from environmental threats.
In addition to the Expert Advisory Board and JPAC, this one-day meeting will also involve representatives from Canada, Mexico and the United States who are involved in activities related to children's health and the environment.
On the morning of 8 March, at the same location, the public is invited to attend the JPAC deliberations as observers. JPAC will hold its regular session to discuss several issues, including potential advice to Council on Children's Health and the Environment in North America, the evolving North American electricity market, matters related to Articles 14 and 15, the North American Fund for Environmental Cooperation (NAFEC), a follow-up on the Pollutant Release and Transfer Register Project and the next Council Session in June 2002. At the conclusion of the meeting, observers will have an opportunity to make comments.
Please find attached the registration form and the preliminary agenda for the JPAC Regular Session on 8 March. We will send you the draft cooperative agenda related to the public meeting on Children's Health and the Environment in North America as soon as it is available.
Registration and financial assistance
Registration is free and on a first-come, first-served basis. To confirm your attendance at these meetings, please fill the registration form attached or send an e-mail to Jocelyne Morin at <jmorin@ccemtl.org>, including your name, title, organization, address, phone and fax numbers and e-mail address or complete and return the registration form that you will find on the web site. Once participants have registered, they will receive any documents relevant to these meetings.
Limited financial assistance is available for not-for-profit organizations and individuals who pre-register. Please complete the appropriate section of the registration form. The deadline to submit a request for financial assistance is before 8 February 2002.
The CEC was established by Canada, Mexico and the United States to build cooperation among the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners in implementing of the North America Agreement for Environmental Cooperation (NAAEC), the environmental side accord to NAFTA. The CEC addresses environmental issues of continental concern, with particular attention to the environmental challenges and opportunities presented by continent-wide free trade.
The Expert Advisory Board is nine-person panel composed of environment and health experts selected by the Parties to advise Council on issues concerning children's health and the environment in North America.
JPAC is a 15-member, independent, volunteer body that provides advice and public input to Council on any matter within the scope of NAAEC.
For more information on these meetings, please contact:
Erica Phipps
Program Manager, Pollutants and Health
E-mail: ephipps@ccemtl.org
Manon Pepin
JPAC Liaison Officer
E-mail: mpepin@ccemtl.org
For more information or to obtain other documents related to JPAC, please consult the JPAC web page <http://www.cec.org/jpac> or place a request with Jocelyne Morin at the CEC Secretariat: e-mail: <jmorin@ccemtl.org>;, fax: (514) 350-4314 or telephone: (514) 350-4366. | 
