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National Policy Forum

CEIA serves as a forum for Canada's environment industry. In order to continue to do so CEIA must work to ensure that the concerns of the environment industry are truly represented to the federal government. CEIA's National Policy Forum (NPF) is the mechanism for developing the policy positions with which CEIA counsels the federal government on a wide range of issues.

What does the NPF do?

The National Policy Forum, has teleconferences once a month to discuss the development of the current year's workplan and direct the efforts of those who are leading Technical Advisory Groups (TAG) on specific issues. Membership in CEIA's Technical Advisory Groups is open to CEIA National and Associate Members and to companies that are members of: provincial environment industry associations. The NPF's 2001-2002 Annual Report appears below. For more information on the NPF or the TAGs, call 613-236-6222 or email: info@ceia-acie.ca.

 

National Policy Forum Annual Report 2001-2002

Strategic Vision
Year 2001-2002 In Review
      Events & Highlights
      Ministerial Meetings & Marketing the TEEGS
Technical Advisory Groups (TAGS)
Consultations
Hot Spots
Past and ongoing NPF Documents and Efforts

STRATEGIC VISION FOR NPF ACTIVITY

Background
The National Policy Forum reflects one of CEIA’s two core activities. It is one of the areas where CEIA is able to demonstrate to its members and to government that the value of the whole organization is greater than the sum of its constituent members, that by working together we can achieve more than we can achieve through each member company working independently.

In early 2001, the NPF identified its tasks for the coming year as: building on the base that we have established, to solidifying the government’s commitment to the environment as a positive tool for business in the new economy, and showing government that its environment spending should be directed through the private sector. Specifically, the NPF maintained activity in the various Technical Advisory Groups (TAGs); organized the second Annual Environment Industry Day on the Hill; was instrumental in political marketing of CEIA’s Targeted Environmental Exports Growth Strategy (TEEGS); and undertook several important consultations with various federal government departments. This report describes how these objectives were addressed and activities undertaken over the past year.

Year 2001-2002 In Review
The NPF benefited from the leadership of two dedicated and knowledgeable chairs during 2001-2002. In June 2001, Colin Isaacs, who had chaired the NPF since 1998, moved on to become the Chair of CEIA’s Board of Directors. Colin was succeeded by John McMullen whose consultative style, knowledge of the environment industry and of issues relating to technology innovation have already proven an asset to the NPF.

Throughout 2001-2002, the NPF continued its schedule of regular monthly teleconferences. Despite concerns about the cost of teleconferencing, particularly with growing numbers of participants, CEIA has maintained an open-door policy for these meetings. Any interested environmental stakeholder is invited to take part. Notices of meetings are circulated not only to CEIA’s National and Associate Members, including all provincial environment industry associations, but also to CEIA’s Friends in the Canadian environment industry, and to Friends in the ENGO community and in traditional industry. As a result of this broad based outreach, CEIA’s NPF benefits from a wider range of opinions and expertise.

NPF teleconferences were held as follows during 2001-2002: January 12, 2001; February 16, 2001; March 9, 2001; April 19, 2001; May 11, 2001; June 8, 2001; July 13, 2001; September 14, 2001; November 9, 2001; February 8, 2002; March 8, 2002. In each case about a dozen or more participants were on line.

To receive a copy of the NPF's Annual Report, or for more information on TAGs, call Rebecca Last at Tel: 613-236-6222, ext.2 or email: info@ceia-acie.ca

Events & Highlights: The following are highlights of NPF activities during the period of this report:

Hill Times Insert
In May 9, 2001, CEIA coordinated a four page, centrefold insert in the Hill Times, a local Ottawa weekly paper whose principal audience is Members of Parliament, their staff and senior bureaucrats. The insert was a "revenue-neutral" exercise for CEIA, paid for by sponsorships from member companies. Page one provided a definition of the environment industry, the "triple win" message that CEIA delivered to MPs during Hill Day 2002, a brief description of CEIA, and introduced CEIA’;s Board of Directors. The inner two pages included an overview of the analysis that underlies CEIA’s TEEGS, and graphic representation of basic statistics relating to our industry. The back page was reserved for profiles of the CEIA National Member companies that sponsored the insert. The objective behind this publication was to set the stage for CEIA’s second annual Environment Industry Day on the Hill, which took place less than one month later. The success of the insert was apparent almost immediately. During the first Hill Day, CEIA staff had to work quite hard to schedule MPs to accept meetings. Following publication of the Hill Times insert, MPs began calling the CEIA National Office to request meetings.

Environment Industry Day on Parliament Hill
On June 6, 2001, nearly 70 representatives from Canadian environmental organizations across Canada converged in Ottawa. They spent the day meeting with Members of Parliament, senior bureaucrats, and participating in panel discussions. The principal objectives of this second annual Environment Industry Day on Parliament Hill were: to meet new members of parliament, elected during the November 2000 federal election; and to introduce Ottawa’s key decision-makers to the opportunities in CEIA’s Targeted Environmental Export Growth Strategy (TEEGS). The TEEGS elicited a positive response from MPs, regardless of their political stripe. Environment industry participants began the day with a briefing from Colin Isaacs and Roger Gibb on CEIA’s TEEGS and on Parliamentary hot issues. Between 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., a Brunch with Bureaucrats permitted company representatives to meet with about 75 senior bureaucrats from key departments. The Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Natural Resources as well as Dan Rubenstein, Principal, Office of the Auditor General and Commissioner for Environmental and Sustainable Development both spoke during the Brunch and took questions. In fact, Minister Goodale’s speech specifically acknowledged support in principal for CEIA’s TEEGS.

The afternoon consisted of meetings with members of parliament as well as a series of four panel presentations: "Safe handling of hazardous waste"; "Clean Air & Meeting Canada's Climate Change Challenge"; "Ensuring Clean Drinking Water for all Canadians"; and "Environmental protection in a Global Economy". After a hectic afternoon of meetings with MPs, the evening Reception, held in Centre Block on Parliament Hill, offered the chance to unwind, make additional contacts and for those exhibiting, the chance to show off their company’s programs and services. A meeting with Dan Wicklum, senior advisor to Minister Goodale, was among the many notable successes. Mr. Wicklum committed to organizing a meeting between CEIA and senior staffers from other ministries so CEIA could present the TEEGS and discuss how to move it forward politically. Senator, the Very Reverend Lois Wilson was also receptive, and committed to supporting the TEEGS in the Senate. Representatives from Health Canada and Transport Canada were receptive to TEEGS as well. Marjory Loveys from the Prime Minister’s office gave positive feedback.

CEIA thanks federal Environment Minister David Anderson, under whose auspices CEIA gained access to parliamentary facilities. CEIA also gratefully acknowledges: Trojan Technologies Inc. and Zenon Environmental Inc. for sponsoring the evening reception; R.J. Burnside & Associates Limited & Pollutech International for sponsoring the Brunch with Bureaucrats; to Ballard Generation Systems for sponsoring the panel on Clean Air & Meeting Canada's Climate Change Challenge; to DELCAN Corp. for sponsoring the panel on Ensuring Clean Drinking Water for all Canadians; to Stablex Canada Inc. for sponsoring the panel on Safe handling of hazardous waste; to Stratos Inc. for sponsoring the panel on Environmental protection in a Global Economy; and to supporting sponsors Contemporary Information Analysis Limited and Marbek Resource Consultants.

Ministerial Meetings & Marketing the TEEGS
In addition to the intensive lobby for the TEEGS that took place during CEIA’s Day on the Hill,CEIA staff, Board members and other volunteers had dozens of meetings with senior bureaucrats, Members of Parliament, cabinet ministers and senior ministerial advisors. The following are a sample of the meetings held.

  • March 15, 2001: met with Paul Stothart, senior advisor to Hon. Pierre Pettigrew, Minister of International Trade;
  • March 19, 2001: meeting led by Chris Henderson with Gerry Frappier, Director General of Environmental Technology Advancement Directorate at Environment Canada;
  • March 27, 2001: Colin Isaacs and Rebecca Last participated in Hon. David Anderson’s ministerial roundtable on the Free Trade Agreement of the Americas, and spoke to contributions TEEGS could bring in a free trade world.
  • April 19, 2001: meeting led by Chris Henderson with Chris Clarke, senior advisor to Hon. Brian Tobin, Minister of Industry;
  • April 20, 2001: meeting led by Chris Henderson with Ian Gillespie, President of EDC;
  • April 27, 2001: Ed Norrena, Chris Henderson and Rebecca Last met Hon. David Anderson, Minister of the Environment;
  • May 15, 2001: met David Watters, Assistant Deputy Minister, Finance Canada, and Margaret McCuaig_Johnston, General Director, Finance Canada;
  • June 26, 2001: a delegation of CEIA Board members met with Tom Wright, Director General, Environmental Affairs Branch at Industry Canada;
  • June 26, 2001: Colin Isaacs, John McMullen and Rebecca Last met with Dr Barry Stemshorn, Assistant Deputy Minister, Environmental Protection Service, Environment Canada;
  • August 29, 2001: Rebecca Last met Marlene Catterall, MP and Liberal Party Whip; and
  • September 26, 2001: a delegation of CEIA Board members met with Dan Wicklum, senior advisor to Hon. Ralph Goodale, Minister of Natural Resources; Jean Boutet, senior advisor to Hon. David Anderson, Minister of Environment; Paul McCarthy, senior advisor to Hon. Brian Tobin, Minister of Industry; and Paul Stothart, senior advisor to Hon. Pierre Pettigrew, Minister of International Trade.

Despite the excellent reception the TEEGS had previously received, the tragic events of September 11, 2001, quite understandably resulted in a dramatic shift in governmental priorities. This message was delivered very clearly during the meeting CEIA held with ministerial advisors on September 26. As a result, CEIA’s Board decided to hold off lobbying on the TEEGS for the next few months, and focus on responding to a range of government consultations that were planned or underway.

Lobbying for the TEEGS has only just resumed, with the intent of re-casting it to be more in line with current government priorities. On January 10 and 11, 2002, the TEEGS was again discussed with Trade Team Canada Environment stakeholders during a workshop entitled "Improving the Effectiveness of Trade Team Canada Environment". On February 28, Chris Henderson and Rebecca Last presented the TEEGS to a small but appreciative audience of MPs from the House Sub-Committee on International Trade, Trade Disputes and Investment of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade which was holding hearings to assess WTO negotiating issues from a Canadian perspective.

Technical Advisory Groups (TAGS)

TAG on CEAA Review
Chair: Lucien Cattrysse, BSI Management Systems Co. (formerly KPMG Quality Registrar Inc.)

Throughout most of 2001, the Technical Advisory Group monitoring the five year legislative review of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (TAG on CEAA Review) maintained a watching brief. TAG Chair, Lucien Cattrysse is CEIA's representative to the Regulatory Advisory Committee (RAC) of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency. The RAC is a standing body, comprising representatives of other federal departments, other levels of government, industry sectors, aboriginal and non-governmental groups, that provides stakeholder input to the CEA Agency. Mr. Cattrysse attended RAC meetings in April and October 2001.

In May 2001, Cabinet considered a range of approaches for implementing environmental oversight of projects funded by Export Development Canada. One option called for oversight to be done through the CEAA. CEIA submitted a letter to Hon. Ralph Goodale, Chair of the Cabinet Committee for Economic Union, which was considering the options. CEIA's letter spelled out the following six specific concerns relating to how such oversight might be implemented:

  • Canadian environment companies operate in an increasingly competitive world. Whatever measure taken by the government of Canada to provide environment oversight for EDC activities should not put Canadian environment companies at a trade disadvantage relative to competitors in global markets;
  • Under either the EDA or the CEAA there will likely be requirements for transparency and public disclosure. We appreciate the rationale for these requirements. However, we believe it is critical that the regulation not lead to the disclosure of information that is proprietary or commercially confidential;
  • Environmental oversight of EDC activities through the EDA or CEAA represents, to a certain extent, Canadian intervention in the environmental policies and standards of other countries. We should not jeopardize our trading relationships, and it would highly desirable that this situation be thoroughly evaluated prior to the introduction of any new regulation;
  • Any new regulation of EDC activities should seek to minimize additional information requirements that are costly and/or time consuming for EDC’s clients (Canadian exporters) to prepare;
  • Canadian environmental companies value rapid processing of EDC applications. Any new regulation should not delay this process. Time is of the essence in international trade, and
  • We believe it is desirable to not only review the environment impacts of trade activities supported through EDC, but also to document and report instances where Canadian exports preserve or improve the environments of other countries.

The House Standing Committee on Environment & Sustainable Development is now holding hearings on the draft CEAA legislation. CEIA is scheduled to present its brief before the committee on Tuesday, March 19, 2002. Approximately fifty individuals have participated in CEIA’s CEAA Review discussions.

TAG on Climate Change
 Chair: E. (Skip) Willis, ICF Consulting

Throughout 2001, the CEIA Technical Advisory Group on Climate Change (TAG on Climate Change) held several joint teleconferences with the Kyoto Mechanisms Trade Cluster of the EEC. The main activities of the TAG on Climate Change were to monitor progress of international negotiations. These negotations reached a most satisfactory culmination at the very successful meeting in Marakech in November, where most nations agreed to proceed with negotiations towards Kyoto ratification, despite the USA decision not to engage. Marakech also marked the first agreement in principle on rules of engagement for the so-called flexibility mechanisms of emission credit trading, Clean Development Mechanism and Joint Implementation.

Going forward in 2002, the TAG on Climate Change will continue to work with the KM Cluster and focus its attention on policy input to the crucial SBSTA meeting in Bonn in June at which the newly constituted Executive Board of the CDM, including DFAIT's own Sushma Gera, will convene and agree upon rules for baselines of CDM projects. This should clear the way for CDM projects to begin being proposed for approval by the CDM Executive Board. The KM Cluster expects to convene cluster conference calls before and after the June meeting to provide our input and obtain debriefs. Conference calls are also being planned for pre- and post-COP-8 in November in New Delhi.

TAG on Hazardous Waste
 Chair: John Bennett, Bennett Environmental Inc.

Throughout most of 2001-2002, the Technical Advisory Group on Hazardous Waste (TAG on Haz. Waste) maintained a watching brief. The TAG organized several period updates on the status of new federal and provincial regulations for landfilling, management and transportation of hazardous waste, and was briefed by officials from Environment Canada. CEIA’s work on developing a policy for the transboundary movement of hazardous waste saw fruition by being reflected in new regulations for Quebec, and other provinces appear to be following suit.

In the coming year, it is likely that the TAG on Haz. Waste will maintain its watching brief and may work towards developing a policy statement commenting on the need for harmonization of Canadian regulations with those in the USA relating to landfilling of hazardous waste. However, it appears that most provincial regulations are already moving in this direction so intervention by CEIA may not be necessary. The TAG may also chose to intervene on an initiative by Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), in partnership with Environment Canada and Natural Resources Canada, to study technologies and approaches to manage municipal solid waste in Canada.

Watching Brief on CWWA/CSA Initiative
Monitor: John McMullen, John McMullen & Associates

It was agreed that since the Canadian Standards Association decided to forgo the development of new standards in favour of deferring to the NSF (National Sanitation Foundation, USA) existing standards, that this policy item be dropped from the NPF agenda.

SR&ED Group
 Environment Industry Representative: Dr. Don Lush, Beak International

Throughout 2001-2002, Dr. Lush has continued to monitor the efforts of the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency (CCRA) to simplify the administration of the Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) tax credit. In November 2000, CEIA undertook a survey of environment industry stakeholders that resulted in several useful recommendations and suggestions that Dr. Lush was able to bring forward to the Industry Steering Committee that is overseeing CCRA’s efforts. As a result, most companies are now reporting that the SR&ED is much easier to use, and that CCRA officials who monitor its use are applying more uniform and science-based standards in their evaluations.

In the coming year, it is likely that CEIA will organize one or more sessions to inform environmental companies who are not familiar with this tax credit of its potential value. The SR&ED is acknowledged as one of the more generous such credits in the OECD.

Consultations
 In addition to the work of CEIA’s Technical Advisory Groups, the National Policy Forum has also been active in monitoring and commenting on various federal government consultations.

CIDA Consultations on "Strengthening Canada’s Aid Effectiveness"
 In August 2001, Hon. Maria Minna, then Minister for the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) invited CEIA to take part in consultations designed to strengthen the effectiveness of Canada’s international aid efforts. In early September, Colin Isaacs made a presentation at the consultation session that took place in Toronto. More than 200 people, many representing environmental non-governmental groups (ENGOs), were present for a Friday evening consultation. Business representation at this session was minimal, and it was apparently a lively meeting; audience members were not shy about booing presentations with which they did not agree. For this reason and in accordance with the relatively high level of discussion on the CIDA consultation topic, Mr. Isaacs’ brief to CIDA was restrained, alluding only indirectly to the principal concern of CEIA members that CIDA consultancy rates are far below market. Rebecca Last made a followup appearance before the CIDA consultation committee in Ottawa on September 20. CEIA formalized its submission to this consultation in a letter sent to Minister Minna on September 27, 2001.

Pathways to Growth
 Pathways to Growth is a consultation process to engage environment industry stakeholders in the challenge of preparing an Action Plan to Grow Canada's Environment Industry in the 21st Century. Industry Canada, Environmental Affairs Branch (IC/EAB) wanted to initiate their consultations with the industry by speaking first with CEIA’s Board and Members. Accordingly, IC/EAB took advantage of CEIA’s Open House reception and held a special consultation session for CEIA Board and members that same afternoon on Thursday, December 13 in Ottawa. Subsequently, the Pathways consultation process was introduced by Anne Thompson during the TTCE meeting held on January 10 and 11. A teleconference on January 21 solicited opinions from the broader audience of all Trade Team Canada Environment industry stakeholders. The Pathways consultation process is ongoing and is expected to conclude by late spring. Its relatively unique web-based approach allows input at any time by anyone with modem and Internet access. CEIA Members and Friends are invited to help shape the future direction for Canada's environment industry in the 21st Century by visiting the NEW Pathways to Growth website at <http//strategis.ic.gc.ca/pathways>.

Innovation Strategy
 On Friday, February 12, 2002, Industry Minister Allan Rock and Human Resources Development Minister Jane Stewart launched the Government of Canada’s Innovation Strategy. As a result of ground-laying work by CEIA, the environment industry is identified as one of the key sectors contributing to innovation in Canada. IC/EAB is therefore leading consultations with our industry. An Environment Industry Innovation Committee, comprising senior environmental practitioners and corporate executives has been struck and will be chaired by NPF Chair John McMullen. The first consultation session took place by invitation only today, Tuesday, March 12. Again these consultations are expected to be ongoing for some months. CEIA expects to remain engaged in these consultations to impress on government that private sector environmental companies have a key role to play in ensuring Canada’s remains an innovative economy.

Hot Spots
The value of association memberships is often most apparent in the face of challenges and difficulties. Over the coming year, CEIA’s NPF expects to engage with the federal government on several issues which are, or may become, of concern to members. The following are some of the "hot spots" the NPF foresees addressing in the coming year.

CIDA
 In late 2001, several members approached CEIA with concerns regarding CIDA’s administration of various funds, particularly the Canadian Climate Change Development Fund (CCCDF). Specifically concern has been expressed regarding apparent biases within CIDA: preferring to do business with not-for-profit or non-governmental agencies, rather than with the private sector; and within CIDA’s rate structure which appears to discriminate unfairly against smaller consultancies. At the request of a group of CEIA National Members, Rebecca Last attended a meeting with CIDA officials, including Vice President, Brian Emmett, at which the administration of the CCCDF was discussed. Although CIDA officials were unwilling to vary their current policies in accordance with requests from this group of CEIA members; Mr. Emmett did promise to consult with CEIA the next time CIDA reviewed its administrative practices.

Sustainable Development Technology Fund
 In the lead up to Budget 2000, CEIA actively sought federal government support for a fund that would support innovation, research and development and would be accessible to the smaller companies that are typical of the environment sector. In response, Budget 2000 announced the creation of a $100 million Sustainable Development Technology Fund. CEIA proposed a round of consultations with environment, non-environmental and financial industry stakeholders to assess how this fund might best be leveraged. Unfortunately the CEIA proposal was rejected. After months of interdepartmental negotiations, an arms length administration system was created in the form of the new foundation. On June 14, 2001, Bill C-4, An Act to establish a foundation to fund sustainable development technology (i.e., creating the Foundation for Sustainable Development Technology in Canada), received Royal Assent.

CEIA was invited to submit names of environment industry stakeholders who might represent the industry in governing the new foundation. However, none of the individuals nominated by CEIA has subsequently been contacted. The new SDT Foundation will be governed by a 15-person Board of Directors. Seven of these 15 individuals will be named by Cabinet. As of late 2001, four individuals had been named: Board Chair, James Stanford, former CEO of PetroCanada; Ken Ogilivie of Pollution Probe (named as the ENGO representative); André Caillé, Rector of the Université de Montréal; and a Mr. Johnston who is Rector of the University of Waterloo. Once Cabinet has named the other three directors, those first seven Directors will then appoint the remaining eight directors, for a total of fifteen. The Board of Directors will be responsible to the Minister of Natural Resources. In addition to the Board of Directors, stakeholder interests will also be represented by a 15-person Board of Members, a de facto advisory group. Members will represent the different industry sectors that are most likely to draw on the SDT Fund. Again, Cabinet will name the first seven members who will in turn name the remaining eight members, for a total of fifteen individuals.

The new foundation, which has now moved to offices in Ottawa, has a website, located at <www.fsdtc.ca> which provides some information about the governance of the new foundation and criteria for allocating funds. Foundation staff, including the new Executive Director, Vicky Sharpe, were invited to participate in the November 9, 2020 NPF call, but were unable to attend.

Among the concerns that appear to be emerging in connection with this fund:

  • Of the $100M that has initially been allocated to the SDT Fund, apparently 80% will be dedicated to climate change initiatives, and 20% to clean air initiatives. There is no money for clean water, soil remediation or other sub-sectors of environmental endeavour. Ineligibility of projects for anything other than clean air or climate change is of concern to CEIA members who do not work in these areas.
  • Because the intent of the SDT Fund is to diffuse technology as quickly as possible, projects resulting in exclusive intellectual property rights will be exempted from funding. The inability to protect the intellectual property of any discoveries funded by the SDT fund is problematic for private sector proponents.
  • Again, with the intent of quickly disseminating the results of projects, it is rumoured that the new Executive Director will focus initially on projects involving larger organizations and companies. The rumoured intention to focus on funding larger organizations is especially problematic for the environment industry, which is dominated by SMEs.
  • Finally, some members have expressed concern that the new SDT Fund might become a means of funding CanMet labs. While government laboratories are specifically excluded from being project proponents under the new SDT Fund, nothing excludes them from benefiting from a sub-contractor role.

Day On the Hill 2002
As it has done very successfully for the past two years, CEIA is planning a third annual Environment Industry Day on Parliament Hill. Tentatively scheduled to take place in late April or early May, this year’s messages will likely focus on a modified version of the TEEGS that underlines how this CEIA initiative can contribute to current, post September 11 government priorities. Ralston MacDonnell of The MacDonnell Group will be chairing the 2002 Hill Day. Anyone interested in taking part in the planning of this event is invited to contact Rebecca Last at the CEIA National Office.

Some Past and ongoing NPF Efforts
(please note, files available for download are in Adobe PDF format)
Industry Sector Committee on Climate Change (ISC3):
CEIA continues to be involved with this industry discussion forum. Mr. Ron Portelli, Vice President of Gartner Lee, represents the association at the Steering Committee meetings for the ISC3.
Climate Change:
Credit for Early Action: CEIA developed a statement on "Credit for Early Action" and presented it to then Environment Minister Christine Stewart during a Meeting on April 20th 1999. The Statement was subsequently discussed with the current Environment Minister David Anderson during a meeting on December 8th, 1999. 
Guiding Principles: On September 21, 2020 the Board of Directors of the Canadian Environment Industry Association (CEIA) approved the following Guiding Principles for action to reduce the impact of climate change.
Canada Wide Standards
Particulates & Ground Level ozone: CEIA's Technical Advisory Group, under the leadership of Dr. Anton Davies, RWDI, completed and submitted a detailed review of the scientific paper on ground-level ozone. Subsequently, Mr. Davies represented CEIA at the Second National Multi-Stakeholder Consultation Workshop on the Development of Canada-Wide Standards (CWSs) for particulate Matter (PM) and Ozone, which was held in Calgary, May 26-28, 1999.
SR&ED:
Dr. Don Lush, Beak International, remaines involved on the Industry Advisory Committee and will keep CEIA informed of the progress of this Revenue Canada Initiative to improve the administration of the Scientific Research and Experimental Development tax credit program.
Trade Policy:
Trade Policy issues are currently handled by the NPF but will most likely become the responsibility of the EEC in the near future.
Canada and the World Trade Organization:
At the request of several members, CEIA responded to an open invitation from the Department of Foreign Affairs & International Trade to comment on Canada's priorities and interest in the upcoming international negotiations on the World Trade Organization. CEIA appreared before the House Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade (SCFAIT) on March 25th, 1999. Following the succesful appearance and approval of CEIA's board a written submission was finalized and submitted. A copy of the document can be found Here to see the document.
GATS Consultation: On September 17th, CEIA coordinated a joint teleconference meeting of the Environmental Exported Council and the National Policy Forum. Seveteen environment industry people took part in this meeting, called for the purpose of providing advice to the Department ofForeign Affairs and international Trade (DFAIT) on issues relating to the environment industry that may be expected to arise in the internationl negotiations on the General Agreement on Trade in Services. DFAIT personnel participated in the call, and notes from this discussion were carried forward to the Environment Industry SAGIT. A copy of teh docuemnt can be found Here to see the document.
2000 Pre-Budget Submission:
Every year the NPF endeavours to influence the finance minister in his/her yearly federal budget. This document was the result of months of work by the NPF and was succesful in promoting the importance of allocating money for environmental efforts in the year 2000. Find a copy of the CEIA 2000 Budget submission here.
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