| Montreal, 10/01/1997 – The CEC will be holding a series of three public meetings in Spring, 1997. The proposed topics are:
1. Long-range transport of air pollutants in North America
2. Voluntary compliance with environmental laws in North America
3. Environmental networking among the North American communities
These international meetings offer an excellent opportunity to express and exchange ideas and experiences and to analyze the progress made in these areas.
Workshops on the proposed issues will be held in accordance with the following schedule:
· March 19 and 20, 1997 Mexico City, D.F., Mexico
· May 14 and 15, 1997 Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
· June 11 and 12 1997 in the United States (location to be announced)
During the sessions, JPAC (Joint Public Advisory Committee), the Executive Director and the CEC staff will review the Commission's mandate and provide an update on its program. This will enable attendees to learn more about the CEC's mission, its intentions and the experts working for it. On the third day, JPAC, an advisory body consisting of 15 members (5 from each country), will hold a working meeting at the same location, which the public is invited to attend as observers.
The results of these workshops and the conclusions arising from the public consultations will be included in the report and recommendations JPAC will submit to the CEC Council (consisting of the Environmental Ministers from the US, Mexico and Canada) in September 1997. They will help the Secretariat in formulating the Proposed Program of the CEC for 1998.
If you wish to attend any of these meetings or to submit a written document on the proposed topics, please complete the enclosed registration form. Once registered, you will receive the agenda for the meeting, together with the working documents on each topic.
The CEC is pleased to offer limited financial assistance to representatives of nongovernmental organizations to facilitate their attending at the public consultations.
The public consultations organized by JPAC will positively affect future decisions taken by the CEC Council, promoting a more solid cooperation between Canada, Mexico and the United States on environmental issues. Your contribution is an important part of our joint effort to deliver a positive and progressive environmental agenda for North America's future. | 
