Environment Canada is reflecting on its youth engagement actions.

Environment Canada created the Youth Round Table on the Environment (YRTE) program in 1997 with the goal of engaging Canadian youth in environmental and sustainable development issues. This Round Table has involved around 130 youth since that time. The department is reflecting on its youth engagement efforts of past years and remains committed to providing opportunities for youth involvement and learning in the future.

Part of this process is a review of the YRTE program to identify lessons learned as well as its strengths and weaknesses. This review includes in-depth interviews with past members of the YRTE, Environment Canada's staff, youth NGOs, NGOs working with youth, and staff from other federal departments youth programs. As a result, there will be no call for new YRTE members this year, nor will there be meetings of returning members.

Environment Canada would welcome views of youth in this regard on what form the engagement of youth might take in the future -- whether that might be a round table, or some other mechanism to support engagement. Comments may be made on the contact page of Environment Canada's youth Web site at: http://www.ec.gc.ca/youth/contact_e.cfm.