...to reform Environmental Assessment (EA) in Canada because present EA policies and practices just don't add up. Now is the time ...

...about how to make EA thorough, rigorous, timely and fair and promote sound environmental protection and sustainable development. Get involved...

...and join in this roundtable discussion by sharing your concerns, your experiences, your information, your expertise, and your ideas for reforming EA

...so everyone at the Roundtable can take these the issues and recommendations to politicians and other policy makers.

This Roundtable is your opportunity to speak out. We want your views about;

• What changes are needed to improve EA? Are present procedures sufficiently rigourous? thorough? timely? and fair? If not what's wrong? Why?
• What is working well enough for the present?
• How should all levels of governments cooperate to improve EA?
• How can EA be used to promote sustainable development?
• How do EA procedures differ between jurisdictions? What should change? What can we learn from each other?
• What has been your experience with EA? Share this with others;
• What should Canada do to develop effective circumpolar and international EA processes?

Through the Roundtable your voice will be heard by politicians and officials. CARC will see that the views of everyone are made known directly to decision makers through its advocacy and public information programs. So too can the other groups and organizations that join in the discussions. Together we can make a difference.

CARC will take your advice in its efforts to improve EA. We will;

• be the "watchdog" and report on the development of the BHP diamond mine;
• intervene in the Diavik diamond mine EA;
• provide advice to the federal Auditor General's Office in its audit this year of EA practices in Canada;
• advise the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment on "harmonizing" federal, provincial, territorial, and Aboriginal EA procedures;
• start right now to build the case for reforming the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. The Act is up for review in less than two years;
• collaborate and cooperate with those wanting to bring about improvements to EA; and
• do all we can to ensure that through EA's our governments live up to their commitments to promote sustainable development.

This Roundtable is for everyone who cares about the future of Canada's environment. Your views are important whether you think of yourself as an ordinary citizen or an expert. The Roundtable is the place to share your concerns and experiences, to suggest improvements to EA, and to lend your support to a sustainable future. Please "Join the Discussion" now ---.

As background for discussion, CARC has set up the ROUNDTABLE LIBRARY with documents relating to EA. The following are examples of what you will find in the library.

• CARC's own critique of the BHP diamond mine EA review;
• The Nasty Game: The Failure of Environmental Assessment in Canada,
  by Andrew Nikiforuk;
• Response of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency to a report
  prepared by Andrew Nikiforuk on the status of environmental assessment in Canada;
• The Canadian Environmental Assessment Act.