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FIRST MEETING OF THE CANADA-CHILE COMMISSION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL COOPERATIONSANTIAGO -- November 9, 1998 - At today’s first meeting of the Council of the Canada-Chile Commission for Environmental Cooperation, the two countries took another step ensuring that their environment and trade objectives are mutually re-inforcing. Christine Stewart, Minister of the Environment for Canada, and Rodrigo Egaña, Executive Director of the Chilean National Commission for the Environment (CONAMA), are the two council members of the commission. The Canada-Chile Commission was established to implement the Canada-Chile Agreement on Environmental Cooperation, the environmental side agreement to the Canada-Chile Free Trade Agreement which entered into force in July 1997. This agreement demonstrates the commitment of Canada and Chile to environmental responsibility and sustainable development. Both Minister Stewart and Rodrigo Egaña emphasized the importance of the Agreement to the broader hemispheric context . "Canada and Chile are demonstrating how a positive relationship between environment and trade can be realized." said Minister Stewart. "The program of work we have agreed to today, which focuses on environmental enforcement and compliance and public participation, will help citizens get the information they need to make an important contribution to addressing environmental problems in both of our countries." "We are committed to giving citizens the opportunity to be heard through public sessions." said Rodrigo Egaña. "This agreement has also enabled us to make important progress in implementing our national environmental policy through cooperation," added Egaña. "We look forward to continuing to work in partnership with Canada and the Joint Public Advisory Committee (JPAC) to raise awareness of environmental problems and enhance our capacity including in areas such as environmental impact assessment." They also announced the appointment of the six members on the Joint Public Advisory Committee (JPAC), autonomous experts whose primary role is to provide independent advice to the council. They also named the two members on the Joint Submission Committee on Enforcement Matters. Both Canada and Chile now have web sites related to the environmental side agreement. Canada’s site address is http://can-chil.gc.ca and the Chilean address is http://www.conama.cl/chile-Canada/. -30- BACKGROUNDERTHE CANADA-CHILE AGREEMENT ON ENVIRONMENTAL COOPERATION Key Features
Canada-Chile Commission for Environmental Cooperation The Canada-Chile Agreement on Environmental Cooperation established the Canada-Chile Commission for Environmental Cooperation which has the following elements.
Backgrounder Canada-Chile Commission for Environmental Cooperation The Canada-Chile Agreement on Environmental Cooperation established the Canada-Chile Commission for Environmental Cooperation with the following components. A Joint Public Advisory Committee with three representatives from each country will advise the council on any matters pertaining to the agreement. Canadian Members Harvey Mead Dr. Mead has 30 years of experience with community-based and governmental organizations in environmental and sustainable development areas. He has focused on interactive techniques which he brings to his work with stakeholders in the fields of environment and ecology. As current President and founder of the Union québécoise pour la conservation de la nature (UQCN), he is responsible for policy formulation and program implementation for the organization in a large number of fields affecting sustainable development. He is President of the Advisory Committee to St. Lawrence Vision 2000, a five-year federal-provincial initiative. He was formerly Assistant Deputy Minister with the Quebec Ministry of Environment. Dr. Mead received awards in Quebec and Honduras for his conservation work, and most recently, the provincial Phénix award for his career contribution in the environmental field. David Hunter Mr. Hunter, a senior environmental lawyer in Toronto and a partner with the national law firm, Fraser Milner, has extensive experience in representing major industrial and resource clients before courts and tribunals in Ontario. Mr. Hunter has been involved with Aboriginal policy matters since 1969 and has acted as counsel to several Aboriginal communities with respect to environmental, land use and resource agreements, including land claims. He has been policy advisor to the Canadian government on environmental issues including U.S. legislation regarding the management of point and non-point pollution in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Basin. He was also policy advisor to a Brazil-Canada Seminar in Rio de Janeiro on Environmental Management and Natural Resources, and to a Trade and Environment Seminar on NAFTA in Mexico. Asta Antoft Ms. Antoft is an environmental advocate in the classroom and her community. Born in Montreal, she moved to Cape Breton after traveling in the U.S., Canada and Austria to teach junior high school. Under her eight-year leadership, the school recycling committee of 12-15-year-olds developed a successful educational awareness program that resulted in a Nova Scotia Department of Environment Certificate of Merit and the Gold Award for Waste Management as well as numerous local awards. A member and current president of the Atlantic Coastal Action Program (ACAP)-Cape Breton, Asta Antoft opened the Environmental Activities Centre in Sydney for education and reference on local and global issues and for outreach activities in Cape Breton. She has received numerous awards including the Governor General's Commemorative Medal for the 125th Anniversary of Canadian Confederation and Nova Scotia's Global Education Award. Chilean members Eduardo Arriagada Mr. Arriagada graduated as a civil engineer from the Universidad Católica de Chile and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Pittsburg. He founded CADE IDEPE, the largest study and project engineering company in Chile, and in 1975 received an award as the most prominent businessman of the year. For many years, Mr. Arriagada was President of the College of Engineers and founder and President of the Latin-American Organization of the Colleges of Engineers. He was a Professor of Engineering at the Universidad de Chile and Universidad Católica de Chile. He has been a reporter, panelist or participant in a number of events related to development, engineering and economy. Between 1994 and 1997, he was the Ambassador of Chile to the People's Republic of China. Mr. Arriagada is now President of the company Administration System. Francisco Sabatini Mr. Sabatini graduated from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile in sociology. He also has a Ph.D. in Urban Planning from the University of California. Mr. Sabatini is a professor and researcher at the Institute for Urban Studies of the Pontificia Universidad Católica. He has academic experience in Chile as well as abroad, mainly in universities of Latin-American countries. Francisco Sabatini specializes in citizen participation and the relationship between poverty and territory. He has also worked on environmental as well as urban planning changes. Mr. Sabatini was a member of the National Advisory Council to the National Commission for Environment (CONAMA). Mr. Sabatini is doing research on residential segregation, urban land policy and on participation and environmental conflicts. He has more than 40 publications including books, book chapters and articles in specialized journals. Gustavo Lagos Mr. Lagos holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Mineral Processing from the University of Leeds, England as well as a Master in Mining Engineering, Universidad de Chile and a Ph.D. in Electrochemistry, University of Leeds, U.K. In 1998, Mr. Lagos was appointed Director of the Mining Centre of the Pontificia Universidad Católica of Chile. Between 1983 and 1993 he worked as Associate Professor in the Mining Engineering Department of the Universidad de Chile. Since 1989 he has participated in investigation projects on environmental materials and their relationship with the mining industry. From 1990 to 1993, Mr. Lagos was the Executive Director of the Centre for Copper and Mining Studies. In addition to his academic work, Mr. Lagos is an industrial consultant specializing in environmental issues with the Government of Chile. He has written various scientific articles for international magazines and published many books on mining issues and the impact of mining on the environment. The Joint Submissions Committee will manage the process through which citizens can make submissions asserting a Party is failing to effectively enforce its environmental law. The committee's two independent experts in environmental law and its enforcement will evaluate citizens' submissions on enforcement matters and make recommendations to the council. David Johnston Mr. Johnston, a Partner in the Montreal Law firm, Guy & Gilbert Avocats, received his law degree from the University of Montreal and a Bachelor of Commerce from McGill University. His practice principally involves counsel relating to the acquisition and financing of businesses with a particular focus on South America. Mr. Johnston has substantial knowledge of Chilean laws and business practice and is director and member of the founding group of the Canada Chile Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Johnston has represented clients in water-purification, waste water management, garbage disposal and wind energy generation and has worked extensively in the mining sector. In 1997 David Johnston studied the legal system relating to financing and making recommendations for improvements in Ecuador. PRIVADO He lectures on business law in Canada, including environmental matters. Carlos Peña Mr. Peña studied at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile in Santiago where he is a graduate of the Faculty of Law and has a Master Degree in Sociology. Carlos Peña is a Professor of Civil Law and Legal Philosophy, and, since 1995, Dean at the Faculty of Law of the Diego Portales University. He is also a Professor at the University of Chile, Faculty of Law and at the Department of Industrial Engineering of the Faculty of Physical Science and Mathematics (Master Degree in Public Policy). He has published three books and more than 60 articles in specialized magazines. He was a member of the study group of the High Commission for Scientific Research and Technology of Chile in 1996-97. At present, he heads case studies in the Master Degree Program in Public Policies of the Department of Industrial Engineering of the Faculty of Physical Science, the University of Chile. For further information, please contact:
Michael Barluk
Andy Bowcott
Carlos Piña (Disponible también en español) 1998 Council Session Documents
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