YRTE Activities

There is no YRTE program in 2006/07. Please refer to the YRTE home page for more information.

Youth Roundtable on the Environment meeting aims for better environmental stewardship and responsibility in Canada.

Started in 1997, the Youth Round Table on the Environment (YRTE) is an active and non-partisan forum of up to 18 youth (with up to 5 members staying on for a second year to ensure continuity) that brings together young Canadians of diverse regional, cultural, educational, and linguistic backgrounds. The YRTE operates at three levels: as a whole group, as working groups on specific issues, and as individuals.

By acting as a support network the YRTE helps each Round Table member to address key environmental and sustainability issues in their local communities and respective provinces and territories. Roundtable members are currently involved in an impressive variety of activities, all of which aim to measurably improve Canada's environment.

The YRTE welcomed its new and returning members at its first meeting of the year, in Cantley Quebec, from October 24 to 28, 2002. One of the main achievements of their first meeting was to organize themselves in order to better address the many environmental concerns and consultations they will face this coming year. They identified six key areas of action and concern that they would like to address over their term. They are: climate change, responsible land and resource stewardship, environmental learning, environmental justice, environmental health and responsible consumption.

They had an opportunity to voice their concerns and questions on these issues at a meeting with Environment Canada's Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Dr. Bob Slater, in Hull. Discussion centered on topics ranging from the expected outcomes of the Joint Minister's meeting in Halifax (Monday October 28) on Canada's Draft Plan to reach its Kyoto targets, to their interest in the creation of a National Environmental Bill of Rights, to the recently released report by the Environmental Commissioner, Johanne Gélinas, on Government of Canada commitments on issues of environment and sustainable development.

Together, members of the YRTE hope to positively contribute to Environment Canada's decision making on these important issues. The YRTE is also a forum for youth to learn about Environment Canada, to exchange ideas and experiences, and to network. In the process these youth get to see different parts of Canada by participating in various conferences, events, workshops and consultations.

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Other YRTE Activities:

2004 - 2005

• 2004-2005 YRTE 3rd face-to-face meeting
• 2004-2005 YRTE Second face-to-face meeting
• 2004-2005 YRTE's first face to face meeting!

2003 - 2004

• YRTE wraps up third meeting in Cantley, QC!
• 2003-2004 YRTE's second face-to-face meeting!
• 2003-2004 YRTE's first face to face meeting!

2002 - 2003

• The third meeting of the 2002-2003 Youth Round Table on the Environment !
  
• The members of the 2002-03 YRTE converged in Halifax, Nova Scotia for their second face-to-face meeting from February 27 to March 3, 2003.

2001 - 2002

• Youth Round Table on the Environment Empowers Young People to Help Environment
  
• Youth Conquers Cancer and Battles For the Environment
  
• The YRTE takes on Vancouver with a bang!
  
• The YRTE establishes its priorities during their first face-to-face meeting