| Montreal, 17/07/2003 – The Joint Public Advisory Committee (JPAC) of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) is soliciting public comments on specific issues related to Articles 14 and 15 of the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation (NAAEC).
The citizen submissions process under Articles 14 and 15 of the NAAEC plays a unique and indispensable role in fostering vigorous environmental enforcement but is still a source of frustration for JPAC and the North American public. As recommended in the JPAC Lessons Learned Report to CEC Council (the three environment ministers of North America) this process must be more timely, open, equitable, accountable and effective.
Two specific issues are of concern to JPAC regarding the implementation and further elaboration of Articles 14 and 15. JPAC would like to receive comments and then invite the members of the public to attend a JPAC public meeting on these matters.
Limiting the scope of factual records
In 2001, JPAC and several NGOs requested that Council make a public review related to the issue of limiting the scope of factual records. Following several JPAC Advice, the Council authorized JPAC to conduct this public review after the completion of the relevant factual records: SEM-99-002 on Migratory Birds; SEM 97-006 on Oldman River II; SEM-98-004 on BC Mining; and SEM-00-004 on BC Logging.
As the Secretariat of the CEC recently submitted these final factual records, we would like to receive public comments on the issue of limiting the scope of factual records, including what is evolving with recent decisions into interpreting what constitutes 'sufficient' information to support an allegation of failure to enforce, related to SEM-02-001 on Ontario Logging.
CEC Council Resolution 00-09
The Council adopted a resolution on the matters related to Articles 14 and 15 in 2000, which states:
Any Party, the Secretariat, members of the public through JPAC, or JPAC itself, may also raise issues concerning the implementation and further elaboration of Articles 14 and 15 of the Agreement to the Council, who shall refer any such issues as it proposes to address to JPAC so that JPAC may conduct a public review with a view to provide advice to the Council as to how those issues might be addressed [AND] The Council shall review the operation of this resolution after two years.
We would like to receive comments on how the public views the operation of this Council Resolution.
Written Comments
Please submit comments no later than 8 September 2003 to Manon Pepin, JPAC Liaison Officer, by e-mail at <mpepin@ccemtl.org>. Include your name, firm or organization, address, telephone and fax numbers. Comments received will be posted on the CEC web site (unless otherwise directed by the submitter) in their original language.
JPAC Public Meeting on the Articles 14 and 15 on 2 October 2003 in Montreal
The public is invited to participate in a discussion on limiting the scope of factual records, including what is evolving with recent decisions into interpreting what constitutes 'sufficient' information to support an allegation of failure to enforce.
Please note the public is invited to attend the following day (3 October 2003), in the same location, a JPAC plenary session on the proposed Program Plan and Budget for 2004-2006.
These exchanges, along with the results of JPAC's own deliberations and the interactions with the public, will form the basis for an Advice to Council. The proposed Program Plan and Budget for 2004-2006 should be available in September.
Registration
Registration is free and on a first-come, first-served basis. To confirm your attendance at these meetings, please complete the attached registration form or complete and return the registration form that you will find on the web site.
Limited Financial Assistance
Limited financial assistance is available for not-for-profit organizations and individuals who pre-register. A request to receive financial assistance is limited to one person per organization. Please complete the appropriate section of the registration form. The deadline for submitting a request for financial assistance is before 28 August 2003.
The CEC was established by Canada, Mexico and the United States to build cooperation among the North American Free Trade Agreement partners in implementing 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.
All JPAC and CEC official publications can be found on the CEC web site at <www.cec.org>.
For more information on upcoming meetings, please contact:
Manon Pepin
Commission for Environmental Cooperation of North America
393, rue St-Jacques Ouest, Bureau 200
Montréal, Québec, Canada H2Y 1N9
Tel: (514) 350-4300; Fax: (514) 350-4314
E-mail: <mpepin@ccemtl.org>
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