| Montreal, 10/05/2000 – Ms. Regina Barba, the chair of the Joint Public Advisory Committee (JPAC) of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) for the year 2000, presided over the first regular session in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, on 23-24 March 2000.
The session was held in conjunction with a Stakeholder Consultation Meeting for the CEC Biodiversity Conservation Strategic Plan held on 22 March organized to receive the input of Indigenous peoples from Canada, Mexico and the United States. This session responded to JPAC Advice 99-05 and 99-10 directed at expanding the involvement of indigenous peoples in the work of the CEC, particularly in project planing and implementation.
A half-day plenary discussion with the attending public on Future CEC Initiatives and Emerging Environmental Trends in North America organized with the Mexican National Advisory Committee (NAC), drew out some very substantive recommendations and points of view. These included a strong call for the timely and transparent processing of Citizen Submissions on Enforcement Matters under Articles 14 and 15 of the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation (NAAEC); the urgency of improving Mexico's contribution to the North American PRTR Project; seeking ways and means to assist local producers to become certified for the production of organic produce; the importance of addressing matters related to water management, particularly quality, access and transport; and the CEC's role in influencing policy making related to land use, demographics and sustainable development.
The session also provided a venue for JPAC and the public to be consulted on the draft Guide: Elements for Improving Environmental Performance and Compliance through Effective Environmental Management Systems, resulting in concrete recommendations on how to clarify the purpose of the document and its intended audience.
Regarding Council's continuing discussion on changes to the Guidelines for Submissions on Enforcement Matters under Articles 14 and 15 of the NAAEC, JPAC prepared and transmitted a letter to Council expressing its concern that the submission process was being impeded, and the credibility of the CEC eroded, by the resulting delays. JPAC will also prepare an Advice to Council on Strategic Directions for the Conservation of Biodiversity based on the input received from the public and the Stakeholder Consultation Meeting with indigenous peoples.
The next JPAC regular session will be held on 11-13 June in conjunction with the Regular Session of Council. The United States will host this Council Session; however, the precise location is not yet confirmed.
The Summary Record of this meeting including the advice to Council, the report to Council on the plenary discussion and the provisional agenda for the next JPAC regular session will be available soon.
JPAC provides advice to the Council of the CEC on all matters within the scope of the NAAEC. It is composed of fifteen members, five from each of the three countries, who are appointed by their respective governments. The members act independently. | 
