CEC receives Canada's response to Ontario Logging supplemental information

The Ontario Logging submission was filed with the Secretariat by Sierra Legal Defence Fund (SLDF) on 6 February 2002, on behalf of several Canadian and US nongovernmental organizations. The submission alleges that Canada is failing to effectively enforce Section 6(a) of the Migratory Bird Regulations (MBR) adopted under the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994, in regard to the logging industry in Ontario. Section 6(a) of the MBR makes it an offence to disturb, destroy or take a nest or egg of a migratory bird without a permit.

On 12 November 2002, in accordance with Article 15(1) of the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation (NAAEC), the Secretariat notified the CEC Council that it recommended preparation of a factual record regarding the submission. On 22 April 2003, the Council voted unanimously to defer its consideration of the Secretariat's notification pending the receipt of additional information from the Submitters in support of the allegations contained in the submission, as well as a notification from the Secretariat that it recommends the preparation of a factual record, after considering both the new information and Canada's response to that information.

For further information, including the full text of the submission, Council Resolution 03-05, the supplemental information provided by the Submitters and Canada's response, please consult: <http://www.cec.org/citizen>.

The CEC was established under NAAEC to address environmental issues in North America from a continental perspective, with a particular focus on those arising in the context of liberalized trade. The CEC Council, the organization's governing body, is composed of the top environment officials of Canada, Mexico and the United States.