The OAIA in 2001 by
Lee Doran
For OAIA, ' 01 might be characterized as
having been a 'housekeeping' or consolidation-type year.
Highlights included:
-
getting ourselves web-based and
organized, if modestly, still
-
reaching out to our sister
organizations across Canada
-
now including both Quebec and our new
sib in western and northern Canada
-
flying the IA flag at a number of
events and activities
-
continuing our participation, both at
the affiliate level and through a number of our individual
members, in IAIA activities
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Remember to Keep Your OAIA
Membership Up-to-Date
A gentle reminder to OAIA members:
dues are now payable for '02. For your convenience, the
membership form is
available on-line. Fill out the form on-line, print it and mail
it, together with your cheque, to OAIA, Box 2727, Postal Station
D, Ottawa, ON K1P 5W7. If you require a receipt, please check
off the appropriate box on the form.
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Call for Board Nominations
Nominations for several upcoming vacancies
on the OAIA Board and for the position of president -elect are
now being sought.
Nomination
forms are available for those interested. Board membership
is not an onerous responsibility. Attendance at monthly
conference calls (one hour) is expected, as well as shepherding
individual projects or special assignments, as required. The
positions are voluntary. An interest in and enthusiasm for IA in
Ontario is obviously a prime requirement for candidacy. People
new to the field with fresh ideas and insights, and lots of
enthusiasm, are especially welcome. Communicate with
Ray Lamoureux,
Lee Doran or any
Board member for more information.
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January 31: Deadline for Comments on
Draft Biotechnology Report
Dr. A Naimark, Chair of the Canadian
Biotechnology Advisory Committee has invited comment on the
draft report entitled
Improving the Regulation of Genetically Modified Foods and Other
Novel Foods in Canada, issued in August 2001. He reminds the
public that the deadline is January 31.
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Annual General Meeting
Your Board has begun planning for the OAIA
Annual General Meeting (AGM) scheduled for mid-April in Ottawa.
We are hoping to arrange a Workshop on the general theme of
sustainability and IA for the same day. More details to follow.
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Transboundary IA Workshop
Planning for a joint AQEI/OAIA workshop on
transboundary issues in IA is proceeding apace. The expanded and
expanding Steering Committee for the Workshop met in Montreal in
mid-December. It was an enthusiastic and productive meeting with
broad participation. Another meeting is planned soon. Dates for
the workshop are not yet confirmed but it will likely occur in a
May-June timeframe. Betty
Hansen, Ray
Lamoureux, Daniel Grondin
and Lee Doran all
attended the Steering Committee meeting and can provide further
details.
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Bill C-19: Amendments to Canadian
Environmental Assessment Act
Parliamentary hearings on Bill C-19 are
expected to occur in the next couple of months in Ottawa.
Details of the Act and parliamentary review procedures are
available on the
CEAA
website. The three Canadian affiliates of IAIA (i.e., OAIA,
AQEI in Quebec, and the Western and Northern Canada affiliate)
have been discussing the possibility of making a joint
submission to the Parliamentary committee. Anyone with views to
contribute should contact
Betty Hansen or Lee
Doran who are co-ordinating OAIA's participation.
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Mackenzie Valley Gas Pipeline: Draft
Cooperation Plan
A
draft Cooperation Plan for the Environmental Impact Assessment
and Regulatory review of a Northern Gas Pipeline was
recently released for public comment. This is an important and
innovative response to the complexities of doing IA on a lengthy
linear project where so many agencies and groups are involved.
Those interested in state-of-the-art IA practice should
definitely check it out, as important new initiatives are under
way, and presumably, precedents are being set. Comments due by
March 8, 2002.
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IAIA Conference
Just a quick reminder that IAIA '02 takes
place in The Hague, Netherlands between June 15 and 22, this
year. The theme is "Assessing the Impact of Impact Assessment,"
and February 28th is the deadline for "regular" registration
(late fees apply subsequently). As the Dutch are among the most
innovative and creative of EA practitioners, globally, this
year's event promises to be interesting, challenging and
well-attended. Plan now to go - you'll learn lots in a
magnificent setting.
Details...
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Oak Ridges Moraine: Another View by
Derek Coleman
Dr. Derek Coleman of ESG International,
Inc. has drafted a brief summary of his views on the recent Oak
Ridges moraine process and its outcomes. He talks of lingering
questions about:
-
The definition of the moraine
-
The rain barrel of southern Ontario
-
Road salt in the environment
-
Corridors and linkages, and
-
A balancing of issues.
Derek's piece is
provided here for those
seeking another opinion on these complex and inter-related
issues.
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IA out in the World? by
Lee Doran
I wonder if you noticed the statement, late
last year, by 100 Nobel Prize winners on the 100th anniversary
of the Nobel Prize. Facilitated by Canadian laureate John
Polanyi, the text highlighted the "legitimate demands of the
world's dispossessed" and global warming, or climate change, as
the highest priority issues requiring human attention and action
in the near future. The statement urged all people to "persist
in the quest for united action to counter both global warming
and a weaponized world." The
Nobel
laureates' brief is short, poignant, well-written and worthy
of contemplation. Share it with your friends. I wonder if and
how IA might contribute to achieving those goals. E-mail your
thoughts to Lee Doran.
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