ARCHIVED - Environment Canada

• Enhancing access to global Earth observation data and science to meet Canadian environmental and socio-economic monitoring requirements
• Maximizing the effectiveness of Canadian investments in Earth observation networks, both domestic and international
• Improving evidence-based decision-making in operational and policy domains based on coordinated, comprehensive and sustainable Earth observations

• Assistant Deputy Ministers' Steering Committee (Chair: Assistant Deputy Minister for the Meteorological Service of Canada)
• Directors Generals' Interdepartmental Coordination Committee
• Canadian Group on Earth Observations Secretariat

The Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem Initiative is Environment Canada's mechanism for coordinating and delivering federal commitments to restore and maintain the chemical, physical and biological integrity of the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem, as expressed in the Canada-United States Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. Environment Canada uses the Canada-Ontario Agreement Respecting the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem (COA) to engage other federal departments and Ontario in delivering Canada's Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement commitments.

Environment Canada's Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem Initiative (GLBEI) reflects Budget 2005 investments targeted at continuing the work under the Great Lakes Action Plan to improve the ecological integrity of the Great Lakes Basin ecosystem. A total of $40 million over five years was allocated in GLAPIV to continue the environmental restoration of key aquatic Great Lakes areas of concern. Federal departments also use A-Base resources to support their efforts towards achieving COA results.

The Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement establishes broad, long-term objectives for Canada and the Unites States in restoring and protecting the Great Lakes. The Canada-Ontario Agreement Respecting the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem (COA) provides a short-term plan for achieving Canada's Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement commitments. Through the COA, federal and provincial agencies are guided by a shared vision of a healthy, prosperous and sustainable Great Lakes Basin ecosystem for present and future generations. The COA also establishes a common purpose and shared goals, results and commitments in four priority areas: restoration of areas of concern; reduction of harmful pollutants; achievement of lake and basin sustainability; and coordination of monitoring, research and information.

Eight federal departments are engaged in delivering GLBEI results under the COA: Environment Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Parks Canada, Transport Canada, Infrastructure Canada and Health Canada.

The COA Management Committee is the senior federal-provincial management body responsible for priority setting, establishing strategies to ensure delivery of the COA, and developing common positions and joint action plans for representing Canadian interests and engaging in cooperative initiatives with the United States agencies and the International Joint Commission.

Planning, prioritization and allocation of GLAPIV monies is managed through the federal Great Lakes Executive Committee, which involves the eight federal signatories to COA. The role of the Great Lakes Executive Committee is to approve strategic directions and priorities for GLAPIV work activities, and to coordinate federal positions, strategies and initiatives in support of binational activities and discussions.

(see below for variance notes)

(See Appendix at end of document for COA Results statements)

(GLAPIV)

(GLAPIV)

(GLAPIV)

(GLAPIV)

plus

$5,484,750

(A-Base)

Ecosystem risk management: Canada understands and mitigates risks to natural resource ecosystems and human health

C-Base

(A and C-Base)

$1,623,489

(A and C-Base)

(A-Base)

(A-Base)

GLAPIV

(plus Departmental funding)

(GLAPIV)

(plus Departmental funding)

(GLAPIV)

(plus Departmental funding)

In 2007-2008 progress toward a healthy and sustainable Great Lakes Basin ecosystem continued on many fronts

• A new Canada-Ontario Agreement Respecting the Great Lakes Basin was negotiated.
• Progress was made in completing actions in areas of concern (AOCs). Two AOCs (Wheatley Harbour and Jackfish Bay) began finalizing the scientific evidence required for future announcements of completed actions.
• The trend of reduction releases continued for many harmful pollutants such as mercury, dioxins and furans
• The threat of introductions of potentially harmful invasive species was reduced through strict enforcement of the 2006 Ballast Water Control and Management Regulations.

Specific Results by Department :

Environment Canada

Work continued to achieve progress in restoration of Great Lakes areas of concern. Environment Canada contributed $3.44 million towards 34 projects and initiatives including

• an environmental assessment for the Randle Reef sediment remediation project (Hamilton Harbour AOC);
• biodiversity Conservation Strategy Implementation (Detroit River AOC); and
• combined sewer overflow reduction - Home Inspection Program (Niagara River AOC).

Work continued to achieve a better understanding of the state and trends in the Great Lakes Basin ecosystem. Environment Canada worked with universities and other government agencies on many water and wildlife research projects, including:

• fish health effects in areas of concern;
• wildlife populations monitoring in Great Lakes areas of concern; and
• watershed modelling for assessing nutrient loading and water quality.

• engaging PCB owners on destruction methods; and
• updating toxic inventories reports.

Fisheries and Oceans

Work continued to conduct science, enhance fish habitats and control the negative impacts of established invasive species. Projects included

• assessing the fish habitat availability in Detroit River and St. Clair River;
• creating the Roger's Creek fish bypass channel (Credit River flowing into Lake Ontario ); and
• controlling invasive sea lamprey.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Work continued to improve beneficial agriculture management practices with involvement of the Great Lakes farming community in over 13 700 projects, including:

• improving nutrient management practices;
• improving water use efficiencies; and
• improving management of riparian areas including planting of buffers, fencing and alternate watering systems.

Natural Resources Canada

Work continued towards the achievement of sustainable development of Canada's energy, forestry and mineral metals resources within the Great Lakes Basin. Projects included

• enhancing policies and practices to mitigate forestry impacts on creeks and rivers;
• confirmation that geotube dewatering is the technology of choice for dewatering Port Hope Harbour sediments so that they can be placed in a long-term waste management facility. Geotube dewatering will reduce the amount of time and effort required to remediate the harbour; and
• completing, installing and maintaining the prototype Stewardship Tracking System (STS) on-line website, database and mapping tool. This enabled conservation organizations in southern Ontario to enter the location and other information about their stewardship and restoration projects; track and report the success of specific projects; and learn from others about the factors that contribute to successful projects.

Parks Canada

Work continued to manage parks in the Great Lakes Basin and towards the achievement of a viable protected areas network. Projects included

• the Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area Agreement, establishing the world's largest protected freshwater marine area.
• educating the public on the importance of our natural heritage through the education and outreach programs for all national parks, national historic sites, national marine conservation areas and the Canada Discovery Centre; and
• advancing the implementation of the Parks ecological integrity monitoring program for all national parks in the Great Lakes Basin.

Transport Canada

Work continued to ensure compliance with the Canada Shipping Act regulations related to the ecosystem health of the Great Lakes. Transport Canada undertook a wide variety of inspection, monitoring and training programs, including such projects as

• boarding vessels to ensure compliance with ballast water regulations;
• assessing the role of the domestic fleet in moving aquatic invasive species; and
• supporting Canadian firms in development of ballast water technology.

Infrastructure Canada

Work continued towards providing funding to infrastructure projects in support of a cleaner environment by improved wastewater treatment for communities located along the Great Lakes. In 2007-2008, in addition to providing funding to already approved wastewater projects, federal funding was also announced for the following wastewater treatment projects in communities situated along the Great Lakes:

• $17.4 million for the City of Sarnia on July 5, 2007 from the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund (CSIF), as well as an additional investment of $921,155 on April 23, 2008 from the Gas Tax Fund;
• $23 million for the City of Brockville on July 5, 2007 from the CSIF; and
• $650,000 for the City of Orillia on March 26, 2008 from the Gas Tax Fund.

In November 2007, the $33 billion Building Canada infrastructure plan was announced. This funding will be provided over six years until 2014. Wastewater and water projects are key national priority categories of the $8.8-billion Building Canada Fund.

Between February and June of 2008 the Government of Canada announced wastewater projects in the following communities along the Great Lakes as priorities for consideration of federal infrastructure funding under the Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (MRIF): Parry Sound, Bluewater, Port Rowan and Brockville.

Health Canada

Work continued to facilitate research and the exchange of information within the Great Lakes Basin that can be integrated into health policy by all levels of government. Projects included:

• continued sharing of information with public health units on environmental impacts to human health through the Great Lakes Public Health Network; and
• advancing the development of a health science framework to guide the work of health scientists.

Dedicated Great Lakes funding (GLAPIV) is received only by Environment Canada and Fisheries and Oceans Canada, each also contributes Departmental A-Base toward achieving results under COA. All other partners to COA (federal and provincial) achieve COA results via departmental funding.

Actual spending by Environment Canada of GLAPIV resources was less than expected in 2007-2008 due to changes in departmental resource allocations following a departmental restructuring exercise. As mentioned above, Environment Canada also spends A-Base funding to achieve COA results; however, exact figures are not available.

For Natural Resources Canada actual spending exceeded planned spending by $23,632 because an additional $30,000 was spent by the CFS Forest Harvesting in Riparian Zones program to repair roads due to flood damage; while the O& M budget for ESS Enhancing Resilience to Climate Change Program was cut by $6,368.

For Parks Canada, exact figures are not available for Total Funding Approved and Planned and Actual Spending for 2007-2008. Parks Canada contributions towards COA objectives are complementary to the Agency's mandated programs and activities and reported via annual Parks Canada Agency departmental performance reports.

For Infrastructure Canada, exact figures are not available for Total Funding Approved, and Planned and Actual Spending for 2007-2008, although under the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund (CSIF), over $100 million has been provided to upgrade wastewater treatment in Sarnia, Brockville, Thunder Bay and Hamilton. Through the Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (MRIF) and the Infrastructure Canada Program (ICP), funding has also been provided in support of many water and wastewater projects in smaller communities along the shores of the Great Lakes.

For Health Canada, exact figures are not available for Total Funding Approved and Planned and Actual Spending for 2007-2008. The projects shown to support work under the 2007-2010 COA are delivered through integrated work with other Health & Environment initiatives within the Department.

• Implementation of SARA
• Protection of species at risk
• Protection of biodiversity

Formal governance structure

• Canadian Endangered Species Conservation Council (CESCC) - federal, provincial and territorial ministers responsible for wildlife
• Canadian Council of Fisheries and Aquaculture Ministers - federal, provincial and territorial ministers responsible for fisheries and aquaculture
• Associate Deputy Ministers Committee (Environment Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Parks Canada)
• Assistant Deputy Ministers Committee (Environment Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Parks Canada)
• Director General Operations Committee (Environment Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Parks Canada and others)

Supporting and Advisory Structures

• Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) - wildlife conservation experts from federal, provincial and territorial governments, wildlife management boards, Aboriginal groups, universities, museums and national non-governmental organizations
• National Aboriginal Council on Species at Risk (NACOSAR)- six representatives of the Aboriginal people of Canada
• Species at Risk Coordinating Committees (SARCC) (specific to each province/territory that has a committee) - federal, provincial/territory
• Canadian Wildlife Directors Committee (CWDC) - federal, provincial and territorial directors responsible for wildlife
• Species at Risk Advisory Committee (SARAC) - various stakeholders groups including industry, agriculture, environmental non-governmental organizations and other members with particular expertise concerned with implementation of the Act.
• Recovery of Nationally Endangered Wildlife (RENEW) Working Group - federal, provincial and territorial representatives responsible for wildlife
• National General Status Working Group - federal, provincial and territorial representatives
• Task Group on Aquatic Species at Risk - federal, provincial and territorial representatives

• General administration of SARA
• Annual Report to Parliament
• Minister's Roundtable
• Finalization of supporting policies under the National Framework for Species at Risk
• Management of listing process
• Continued implementation of the SARA evaluation action plan
• Preparation of ministerial response statements
• Finalization of bilateral agreements with provinces and territories
• Consultations on listing and recovery strategies
• Work with COSEWIC to adopt an ecosystem approach to the assessment of species at risk
• Regulatory amendments
• Preparation of recovery strategies
• Development of risk management framework to provide guidance to priority recovery strategies
• Development of outreach material
• SARA enforcement and compliance promotion

• General administration of SARA
• Annual Report to Parliament is currently being developed (see comments on variance)
• 2006 Minister's Roundtable report and summary of proceedings were posted in July 2007 and the Minister's response was posted in April 2008 on the SARA Registry
• 2008 Minister's Roundtable - preparations are underway
• Supporting policies under the National Framework for Species at Risk currently in development (see comments on variance)
• Management of listing process
• Continued implementation of the SARA evaluation action plan
• Preparation of 53 ministerial response statements
• Bilateral agreements with British Columbia, Quebec and Saskatchewan have been finalized. Other bilateral agreements are currently in development (see comments on variance)
• Consultations on listing and recovery strategies
• Work with COSEWIC to adopt an ecosystem approach to the assessment of species at risk
• Regulatory amendments - 36 species were added to schedule 1 of the Act and 1 species was reclassified
• EC, DFO and PCA prepared a total of 6 proposed recovery strategies for 6 species, 67 final recovery strategies for 100 species and 2 final management plans for 2 species, which were posted on the SARA Public Registry
• Development of risk management framework to provide guidance to priority recovery strategies
• Development of outreach material
• SARA enforcement and compliance promotion

Environment Canada

• Actual Spending for 2007-2008
• • The lapsing amount is due to several factors notably: receipt of the incremental funds late in the fiscal year, staff vacancies and lag time in staffing new positions, shift of A-base SARA funds to support complementary activities in other wildlife programs (including protected areas, migratory bird program, ).
• Results Achieved in 2007-2008
• • A joint 2006 and 2007 annual report to Parliament will be tabled in the summer of 2008
  • Final drafts of supporting policies under the National Framework for Species at Risk have been developed and are in consultation. Finalization of these policies is scheduled for the fall 2008.
  • Bilateral agreements regarding the conservation and protection of species at risk with British Columbia, Quebec and Saskatchewan have now been signed. Negotiations are in their final stages in Alberta and Yukon while negotiations have been completed in Ontario. Five more are in active negotiation (Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Ontario and Prince Edward Island).

Parks Canada

• Actual Spending for 2007-2008
• • The carrying forward of funds was due to the ramping up of new program planning (including the time lag in staffing new positions).

• Assessment and reassessment of 62 species, subspecies and populations by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC)
• The provinces and territories are leading or co-leading development of recovery strategies or management plans for 227 species and have led or co-led development of recovery strategies for 51 species that have now been posted as proposed or final.
• The Habitat Stewardship Program provided $9,815,536 to194 projects aiming at securing and protecting habitat to protect species at risk and support their recovery, mitigating threats to species at risk caused by human activity, and supporting activities identified in recovery strategies.
• A total of $500,000 from Environment Canada was awarded to 41 projects through the Endangered Species Recovery Fund in 2007-2008. These funds supported research and education efforts by scientists and conservation advocates working to recovery Canadian species at risk.
• The Aboriginal Fund for Species at Risk (Aboriginal Capacity Building Fund and Aboriginal Critical Habitat Protection Fund) supported 92 projects ($3 million) in 2007-2008 aiming at building Aboriginal capacity for the protection and recovery of species at risk and at the protection of important/critical habitat on Aboriginal lands.

Virginia Poter
Director General
Canadian Wildlife Service
Environment Canada
(819) 994-1360
Virginia.Poter@ec.gc.ca

• Canadian communities and user groups use tools and information to assess climate risks and plan adaptation strategies.

• Increased knowledge about technologies and vehicles generated.

• Information on the program, the technologies, and the vehicles effectively disseminated to the Canadian consumer and automotive industry

• Increased public awareness.

• Increased penetration of advanced vehicles in the market place.

• Reduced Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from transportation sources in 2010/11.

• Support the government's platform commitments on the environment and Clean Air Agenda by contributing to modal efficiency and reducing air emissions and energy use in the transportation sector;

• Support the removal of regulatory barriers to enable the harmonization of provincial/territorial regulations in order to adopt emissions-reducing technologies in the Canadian Trucking Industry; and

• Support an increase in the freight transportation industry's participation in air emissions reduction initiatives.

• Provinces and territories agree to consider amending their regulations to permit the implementation of emissions-reducing technologies in the trucking industry; and

• Provinces and territories agree to the removal of regulatory barriers that will enable harmonization of provincial/territorial regulations.

• Removing regulatory barriers and developing best practices in a harmonized approach across Canada, allowing for the implementation of emissions-reducing technologies in the trucking industry; and

• Achieving the ultimate outcome of a reduction of GHG emissions and air pollutants in the trucking industry and indirectly increasing competitiveness.

• Support improvements in modal and inter-modal freight efficiency and reduce air emissions and energy use in the freight transportation sector; and

• Demonstrate and encourage the take-up of innovative environmental technologies and efficient best practices within the freight transportation sector that can reduce GHG emissions and air pollutants.

• Support the testing of new and underutilized technologies;

• Enable the transfer of knowledge from demonstrations to broader industry;

• Implement pilot projects; and

• Demonstrate results achieved by industry.

• Adoption of environmentally friendly technologies and best practices by the freight industry;

• Reduction of GHG emissions and air pollutants from the transportation sector; and

• Improved efficiency in the transportation industry.

• Support improvements in modal and inter-modal freight efficiency and reduce air emissions and energy use in the freight transportation sector; and

• Encourage the take-up of innovative environmental technologies within the freight transportation sector by reducing the cost barriers of the technologies.

• Provide incentives for the purchase and installation of proven technologies; and

• Acquisition and installation of equipment by project proponents.

• Greater adoption of efficiency enhancing equipment;

• Reduction of GHG emissions and pollutants from the transportation sector; and

• Improved efficiency in the transportation industry.

• Support improvements in modal and inter-modal efficiency and reduce air emissions and energy use in the transportation sector; and

• Demonstrate and encourage the take-up of marine shore power installations in Canadian ports.

• Funding of pilot projects for marine shore power;

• Transfer of knowledge and dissemination of results;

• Purchase and installation of marine shore power equipment by demonstration proponents; and

• Increased awareness and understanding of marine shore power opportunities.

• Greater adoption of marine shore power equipment in Canadian ports;

• Reduction of GHG emissions and air pollutants from the marine sector; and

• Improved efficiency in the transportation industry.

• To reduce emissions of GHG and air pollutants by 2010/11 in the marine transportation sector.

• Reductions in energy consumption or greenhouse gases or criteria air contaminants from transportation.

• Use of transportation best practices that reduce energy consumption or greenhouse gases or criteria air contaminants.

• Increased capacity to undertake initiatives that reduce energy consumption or greenhouse gases or criteria air contaminants or release of toxic substances.

• Increased participation in emission reducing activities through partnerships and other program activities.

• Informed positions on policies and programs influencing transportation technologies and practices.

• Financial support.

• Reductions in energy consumption or greenhouse gases or criteria air contaminants from transportation.

• Use of transportation best practices that reduce energy consumption or greenhouse gases or criteria air contaminants.

• Increased capacity to undertake initiatives that reduce energy consumption or greenhouse gases or criteria air contaminants or release of toxic substances.

• Increased participation in emission reducing activities through partnerships and other program activities.

• Informed positions on policies and programs influencing transportation technologies and practices.

• Financial support.

• Establishment of one Scientific Steering Committee with Institut national de sante publique du Quebec (INSPQ) on intervention field study on Ventilation, Air Distribution and Health (in Quebec City) in 2007/08.

• One 'Memorandum of Understanding' (MOU) in place with provincial health partner, to complement field intervention study (2008/09).

• One research modelling and ventilation research facility built and instrumented (2008/09).

• Two papers, accepted or published in peer-reviewed journals (one in 2009/10, and one in 2010/11).

• Two stakeholder meetings/workshops with Canadian interest groups and manufacturers, to prioritize IAQ technologies to be tested, validate research protocols, and disseminate findings (2008/09).

• Three protocols developed on the assessment of "Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) improvement solutions"/technologies (2009/10).

• Two papers, accepted or published in peer-reviewed journals (one in 2009/10, and one in 2010/11).

• Two test systems built to test different relevant indoor air quality improvement technologies (2010/11).

• One collaborative agreement in place to support one Indoor Air Quality solution (by 2010/11).

• Three "Indoor Air Quality improvement solutions"/technologies tested against three respective protocols (2010/11).

• One publicly available data set available regarding features of IAQ improvement technologies.

• Report on procedures in support of rating systems in respect to IAQ (2010/11).

• Establishment of a consultation/decision-making process to guide industry and relevant stakeholders concerned with Indoor Air Quality (Indoor Air Quality Committee) (2008/09).

• Two surveys of stakeholders of industry, home owners, general interest groups etc. on awareness of indoor air and improvement strategies (2008/09 and 2010/11).

• Increased capacity of northerners to adapt to climate change impacts.

• Increased professional and institutional development related to adaptation to climate change

• Aboriginal and northern communities have access to support to develop and implement adaptation planning actions

• Guidance material for developing safer and more reliable infrastructure, and,

• Planning decisions are based on identified risks.

• Access to information and increased technical expertise on adaptation to climate change

• Climate risks evaluated and responses to risks identified and

• Greater collaboration in place of the design of effective solutions.

• Vulnerable northern communities will have assessed human health risks and impacts related to climate change so as to position themselves to develop locally-relevant contingency plans and adaptation strategies to address priority risks and impacts. As the research will be done by communities - whether individually or as a group - much of this research and the associated mitigation strategies will be transferable to similar communities across the North.

• Northern communities will have greater capacity/knowledge for development of culturally-sensitive educational and awareness materials on the health impacts of climate change, thereby enabling them to make better local/regional decisions to protect their health.

• Outcomes will be measured through collection and assessment of media reports, local council meeting minutes, publications and research papers to determine the effectiveness of transferring and applying knowledge on climate change and health adaptation in northern and/or Inuit communities.

• Information and decision-support tools needed for practitioners (e.g. planners and resource managers) and decision-makers are more readily available;

• Practitioners and decision-makers use information and decision-support tools to assess risks and opportunities from a changing climate and identify adaptation options; and

• Strengthened Canadian expertise in development and application of tools for adaptation in Canada.

• Health professionals and others will have substantially improved understanding of risk factors that make certain vulnerable population groups particularly susceptible to, or at risk from, extreme weather conditions, enabling them to identify and pursue more effective prevention and mitigation measures to protect health.
• Data collection protocols and reporting frameworks distributed to support reporting on heat-health issues at the provincial and local levels.

• Stakeholders and decision-makers have the information and knowledge to both characterize heat-health risks facing communities, as well as develop appropriate alert and response strategies to protect the health of community members - especially vulnerable populations - in response to situations of extreme heat.

• Canadians will have access to new information to protect their health from risks related to climate change and infectious disease threats; they will be better informed of the actions they need to take to protect themselves and their families through development of new outreach products and response systems.
• Increased knowledge and ability to predict which areas and sub-populations will be at increased risk as a result of changes to the incidence, prevalence and spread of specified infectious diseases occurring as a result of a changing climate.
• Further development of Canadian expertise in risk modeling and risk mitigation as it relates to changes in climate and the impact on human health.
• Tools and recommendations are available to support provinces, territories and local municipalities in the development and provision of social and public health care services in response to infectious disease events.
• Provinces, territories and local governments, including public health authorities, will be provided with the research, evidence base and risk analysis to develop and implement prevention and mitigation strategies at the local and provincial level.

• Effective coordination of issues, matters and policy perspectives related to international climate change across relevant departments. Ministers are kept apprised of relevant issues affecting their portfolios. Analytically-sound options for Canadian negotiating positions are developed, analyzed and broadly coordinated through the interdepartmental process.

• Outcomes of international negotiations and initiatives are consistent with Canada's interests and priorities as agreed to inter-departmentally and/or through Cabinet directives. Canadian interests are protected and advanced in both existing and new agreements, and through participation in key bilateral and multilateral partnerships.

• Alignment of Canada's international climate change policies and negotiating positions with Canada's domestic energy and other natural resource interests (i.e. as a major natural resources exporter), as well as alignment with Canada's domestic climate change and clean air policies.

• Highlighting Canadian technologies and activities through international climate change venues that can assist in addressing the global nature of climate change while promoting Canadian technology exports internationally.

• Providing timely strategic policy advice to the Minister of NRCan, Deputy Minister and senior management on global climate change developments, and the links with energy policy and other natural resource issues.

• Preparing NRCan's Minister, Deputy-Minister and other senior officials for representing the Department and Canada in a range of strategically selected bilateral and multilateral meetings across a range of fora.