Canadians appointed to environment international advisory committees

Canada is committed to building strong international environmental protection through free trade agreements and environmental cooperation agreements.

The Government of Canada has appointed 17 Canadians to international public consultation committees that support these agreements. Canada has environmental cooperation agreements with countries around the world.

The North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation Joint Public Advisory Committee:

• Canada, Mexico, and the United States have collaborated for 25 years to protect the environment through the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC).
• new Canadian members are:
  • Anne-Raphaëlle Audouin, President of WaterPower Canada
  • Louie Porta, Co-founder and Vice-President of Oceans North Canada
  • Dr. Elizabeth Whitsitt, Associate Professor at Faculty of Law, University of Calgary

The North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation Traditional Ecological Knowledge Working Group:

• provides advice to the CEC Council on opportunities to apply Traditional Ecological Knowledge to the CEC’s operations and policy recommendations
• new Canadian members are:
  • Michael Vegh, a First Nations youth from the Heiltsuk First Nation in British Columbia
• reappointments:
  • Kathy L. Hodgson-Smith, a Saskatoon lawyer who practices criminal and Aboriginal law
  • Donna Hurlburt, A Mi’kmaw ecologist and conservation biologist from Lequille, Nova Scotia

The Canada-Chile Commission for Environmental Cooperation Joint Public Advisory Committee

• is the public facing arm of the Canada-Chile Commission for Environmental Cooperation, and is responsible for engagement of the public and advising the Council on matters within the scope of the Canada-Chile Agreement on Environmental Cooperation
• new Canadian members are:
  • Jaclyn Daitchman, Vice President of Environmental, Social and Governance Client Coverage at MSCI Inc.

The new Canadian Environment Domestic Advisory Group (CEDAG) under the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA)

• is responsible for advising the Government of Canada and making recommendations on the implementation of the Trade and Environment Chapter of CETA.
• new Canadian members are:o   Yannick Beaudoin, Director General Ontario and Northern Canada, David Suzuki Foundation
  • Kerrie Blaise, Northern Services Counsel, Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA)
  • Oonagh Elizabeth Fitzgerald, Director, International Law Research Program, Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI)
  • Dakota Kochie, Political Advisor to the National Chief, Assembly of First Nations
  • Paul Lansbergen, President, Fisheries Council of Canada
  • Hélène Lauzon, President, Conseil patronal de l'environnement du Québec
  • Denis Leclerc, President & CEO, Écotech Quebec
  • Mike Moffatt, Senior Director of Policy and Innovation, Smart Prosperity Institute
  • Channa Perera, Vice-President, Policy Development, Canadian Electricity Association
  • Eddy Pérez, International Policy Analyst, Climate Action Network Canada

Associated links

• Environment chapter and Environmental Cooperation Agreement
• The Joint Public Advisory Committee
• North American Agreement On Environmental Cooperation
• Canada-Chile Agreement on Environmental Cooperation
• Commissions for Environmental Cooperation website
• Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement