Mandate

The primary role of the Committee will be to:

(a) Strengthen federal/provincial/territorial relationships in the area of pest management and pesticides.

(b) Promote information exchange in the area of pest management and pesticides.

(c) Provide advice and direction to federal, provincial and territorial governments on programs, policies and issues for pesticides with the aim of enhancing sustainable pest control practices, and seek harmonization where applicable in programs and policies.

Composition

(a) The Committee will comprise two representatives designated by the PMRA, two representatives for each of the provincial and territorial governments as designated by those jurisdictions and a non-voting representative of the Association of American Pesticide Control Officials (AAPCO).

(b) Stakeholder involvement will be through Working Groups reporting to the committee and through involvement by invitation at annual meetings. Stakeholder representation could include other government departments, environmental interest groups, industry, user associations, etc.

Reporting Relationships/Decision Making

(a) The Committee will be a recognized Federal/Provincial/Territorial Committee.

(b) Committee members will report to the appropriate senior officials in the governmental organizations that they represent.

(c) Decisions will be reached by consensus, or a vote, where appropriate.

(d) Committee members will report, to their respective governments, decisions reached by the Committee.

Chairpersons

(a) The Committee will be co-chaired by one PMRA representative and one provincial/territorial representative.

(b) The provincial/territorial co-chair will rotate annually based on an east/west rotation. The Yukon and Northwest Territories will not participate in the rotation of co-chairs at this time.

(c) The federal co-chair may rotate annually.

(d) The term for the co-chairs starts immediately after the end an annual meeting of the Committee and finishes at the end of the next annual meeting.

(e) The first past provincial/territorial co-chair will represent the F/P/T Committee on the Pest Management Advisory Council (PMAC). The PMRA will pay travel and per diem expenses for the provincial/territorial co-chair to attend meetings of PMAC. In the event the first past provincial co-chair of the FPT Committee is not able to attend the PMAC meeting, the FPT Committee will designate a provincial representative as an alternate.

(f) A Standing Working Group comprising the past, current and next provincial/territorial co-chairs will ensure the continuity of the work of the Committee.

Frequency of Meetings

(a) There will be a minimum of one meeting per year of the Committee, supplemented as required by conference calls and Working Group activity. The meeting will be held in the province of the provincial co-chair.

(b) PMRA will provide a forum service on its web site to facilitate information exchange and linkages.

Secretariat Costs

(a) The Secretariat function of the Committee will be provided by the PMRA.

(b) The PMRA will pay the costs of room and equipment rentals incurred for Committee meetings as well as the costs of Committee conference calls.

(c) Members and stakeholders will be responsible for the costs of travel, meals and accommodation incurred to attend Committee meetings.

Working Groups

(a) The Committee may establish Working Groups as needed to further study an issue and to make recommendations on that issue to the Committee. Working groups will have an ad hoc status with a clear mandate and time frame.

(b) Each Working Group will be chaired by a Committee member, as selected by the committee and with the agreement of the member. The Chair will be responsible for generation of minutes.

(c) The Working Groups will becomprise of at least one member of the FPT Committee and may have representation from any other interested parties or experts as the Committee may require.

(d) The Working Groups may meet or use conference calls as frequently as required to effectively carry out the work.

(e) Working Group members will be responsible for the costs of travel, meals and accommodation incurred to attend Working Group meetings.

(f) PMRA can provide meeting coordination and information distribution support to Working Groups, as appropriate.

(g) The Committee may establish linkages to other working groups or committees that function on a more permanent basis.