| Montreal, 10/06/2002 – The Council of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation of North America (CEC) will convene in Ottawa, Ontario, for its two-day annual session, beginning Tuesday, 18 June 2002. A wrap-up press conference is scheduled for Wednesday, 19 June, at 12:30 p.m.
The Montreal-based CEC was created by a NAFTA side agreement to promote cooperation among Canada, Mexico and the United States in the protection of the North American environment. The Council, its governing body, is composed of the environment ministers of the three countries and meets every year to review and direct the program activities of the CEC and, in the process, receive public input and advice from its public advisory committee and various stakeholders.
For this session, David Anderson, Minister of Environment for Canada, will host his counterparts Victor Lichtinger, Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources for Mexico, and Christine Todd Whitman, Administrator of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
"As continental economic integration deepens, protecting our common environment requires ever greater cooperation among Canada, Mexico and the US," says Janine Ferretti, Executive Director of the Commission. "The NAFTA partners had the foresight to make environmental protection an important feature of their accord, and this session is a most valuable opportunity to check our progress and renew our support for each partner's efforts to accomplish sustainable development."
Among the issues on the agenda is consideration of a special report to Council by the CEC Secretariat on the environmental challenges and opportunities of the evolving North American electricity market. Discussions on setting priorities for the work of the Commission will include a comparison of standards for hazardous wastes in North America, and recommendations for the electronic tracking of transborder movements of such wastes.
There will also be a regular session of the Joint Public Advisory Committee (JPAC) on 17-19 June. The JPAC agenda includes public sessions on the sound management of chemicals and NAFTA's Chapter 11 and the environment.
Where:
Château Laurier Hotel
1 Rideau Street
Ottawa, Ontario Canada
Phone: (613) 241-1414
When:
JPAC Session (begins): Monday, 17 June at 9:00 a.m.
Council Opening Remarks: Tuesday, 18 June at 9:40 a.m.
Public/Council Interaction: Tuesday, 18 June, 3:00-5:00 p.m.
For further information on the agenda of the Council Session, please consult the CEC web site.
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