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 Help - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

 Questions

 About the Department

1. How can I contact Minister Dion?
2. Where can I find general information about Environment Canada?
3. How do I find the e-mail address, phone or fax number, or mailing address of an Environment Canada employee?
4. How can I find out about job opportunities at Environment Canada?
5. Whom do I contact for publications or general inquiries?
6. How can I contact the departmental library?

About content

1. Where can I find educational, children-friendly information?
2. Where can I find information on making my home more energy-efficient?
3. Where can I find information on what I can/can't recycle?
4. Where can I find information on water-testing?
5. Where can I find information on historic weather data/information?
6. Where can I find local forecasts?
7. Where can I find information on windchill?
8. Where can I find information on sunrise/sunsets?
9. Where can I find funding information?
10. Where can I find out about Environment Canada's volunteer programs?
11. I am looking for information on a specific topic.  How can I find it?

 About the Web Site

1. Text Size Problems?
2. What is the Green Lane?

Any questions that we haven't answered? Browse our list of other FAQ's from around the department.

 Questions & Answers

 Department

1. How can I contact Minister Dion?
   Minister Dion can be reached through the following ways: 
   
   Mailing Address
          Environment Canada
          Ottawa, ON K1A 0H3
   
   Telephone or Facsimile
          Tel: (819) 997-1441
          Fax: (819) 953-3457
   
   E-mail / Web Site
          Minister Dion's Home Page:        http://www.ec.gc.ca/minister/mineng.htm
          E-mail: Stéphane Dion
   
   
2. Where can I find general information about Environment Canada?
   For general information about the department, visit the "About Us" button at the top of the Green Lane home page.
   
   
3. How do I find the e-mail address, phone or fax number, or mailing address of an Environment Canada employee?
   Environment Canada does not publish a telephone directory. You can however, search the Government of Canada Employee directory.
   
   
4. How can I find out about job opportunities at Environment Canada?
   The Public Service Commission posts all jobs open to the public on their Web Site at http://jobs.gc.ca/home_e.htm. Some other interesting sites:
   
   
   • Careers at Envrionment Canada Web Site
   • Environmental Jobs and Careers
   • Human Resource Development Canada's Job section
   • Youth Resource Network
     
     
5. Whom do I contact for publications or general inquiries?
   Contact our Inquiries Centre and they will be able to answer questions about our programs, services, and publications. If they don't have the answer, they can direct your call to the person who will.
   
   
6. How do I contact the departmental library?
   Our library can be reached at:
   
          Ottawa, ON K1A 0H3
          Tel: 819-997-1767
          Fax: 819-997-5349
   
   For more information, visit their Web Site at http://www.ec.gc.ca/library/default.asp?lang=En&nav=1AF79529-01.
   
   Still have a question? Contact our Inquiries Centre.

 Content

1. Where can I find educational, children-friendly information?
   Environment Canada has lots of information just for kids, including homework-helpers, games and puzzles, contests, clubs, and more!
   
   
   • Canadian Environment Week Kids Zone
   • Canadian Wildlife Service Kids Zone
   • Clean Air Day Kids and Youth Corners
   • Environment Canada Kids Page
   • Great Lakes Kids Site

   Some other related sites include:

   • The Government of Canada – Web Sites for Kids
     
     
2. Where can I find information on making my home more energy-efficient?
   Environment Canada’s What You Can Do Web Site has plenty of information on making your home more efficient and on making all of your everyday activities more environmentally friendly. See how you’re doing at home, school, and work by going to the Green Lane home page and clicking on “What You Can Do”. The site can be found at http://www.ec.gc.ca/eco/main_e.htm.

   You can also check out the One-Tonne Challenge, which asks you to reduce your annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by one tonne by using less energy, conserving water and resources, and reducing waste. On the One-Tonne Challenge Web Site you will find a calculator to tabulate your current GHG emissions, tips on reducing GHG emissions and a registration form for joining the challenge. The site can be found at http://www.climatechange.gc.ca/onetonne/english/index.asp.

3. Where can I find information on what I can/can’t recycle?
   Municipalities are responsible for recycling. What can or cannot be recycled differs from community to community. For an accurate list for your area, contact your local municipality.

   Are you looking to find out what the recycling symbol stands for (three arrows forming a triangle) and what the numbers inside the triangle represent? The answer can be found in EnviroZine, Environment Canada’s On-line Newsmagazine, at http://www.ec.gc.ca/EnviroZine/english/issues/26/any_questions_e.cfm.
   
   

4. Where can I find information on water-testing?
   You can find some information on water testing in the Freshwater site under the category of water quality. The site can be found at http://www.ec.gc.ca/water/en/manage/qual/e_qual.htm.

   You can also watch a video of Environment Canada inspectors testing the water of the Great Lakes at http://www.on.ec.gc.ca/greatlakeskids/glk-video-e.html.
   
   

5. Where can I find information on historic weather data/information?
   This type of climatological data does not constitute one of Environment Canada's basic services. This information is therefore only made available to users who request it if we can recover the costs of doing so.
   
   Some detailed information is made available online through the National Climate Data and Information Archive: http://www.climate.weatheroffice.ec.gc.ca/Welcome_e.html. Visit either “Climate Data Online” or “Climate Normals and Averages” to look for the data you require.
   
   For more information, contact the regional office serving your area: http://www.climate.weatheroffice.ec.gc.ca/contacts/index_e.html. Where available, the user-pay Climate Source service, accessible at 1-900-565-1111, gives you quick, direct access to this office.
   
   
6. How can I find out about my local forecast?
   On our home page, click on the weather button on the top-right hand side of the page, and then choose the closest city to you in your province.
   
   
7. Where can I find information on windchill?
   On our home page, click on the weather button on the top-right hand side of the page, and then click on Meteorological Service of Canada. Click on Wind Chill under the heading "Weather".
   
   
8. Where can I find information on sunrise and/or sunsets?
   On our home page, click on the weather button on the top-right hand side of the page. Select the province and city for which you want information. Under the "Currently" section, you will find sunrise, sunset, moonrise, and moonset times for today.
   
   For other astronomical information, visit Frequently Asked Questions on Environment Canada's Weather site.
   
   
9. Where can I find out about Environment Canada's funding programs?
   From the home page, click on Publications, and look under services for funding programs. Click on the link and it will take you to our funding page.
   
   
10. Where can I find out about Environment Canada's volunteer programs?
    From the Green Lane home page, click on Topics, and look under Action and Learning for Volunteerism.
    
    
11. I am looking for information on a specific topic. How can I find it?
    From the Green Lane home page, check the Topics section for the information you seek. You can also check the regional sites (click on the Home button from the home page).

 About the Web Site

1. Text size problems?
   
   
   
2. What is the Green Lane^TM?
   The Green Lane is Environment Canada's Web Site and Internet presence. On the Green Lane, you'll find comprehensive information on environmental science, technology, policy, environmental action, tips, news and more. "The Green Lane" is a registered trademark.