_ 2 _ 
     
     Editors Note: ATo fully absorb the ingenuity of the title of this 
     
     article, one should realize that a group of owls is 
     
     properly referred to as a "Commonwealth of owls". 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     REPORT ON MEETING OF ENVIRONMENTAL NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS 
     
     WITH THE CANADIAN ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY COUNCIL 
     
    
   
   
    
     During November 20—23, 1977, environmentally concerned citizens' 
     
     groups from across the country met in Hull, Quebec to discuss 
     
     common concerns and voice some of these during a two day meeting 
     
     with the Canadian Environmental Advisory Council. Two delegates 
     
     were invited from each province and an additional one from each 
     
     of the four regions. Rosemary Curley and Kathy Martin were the 
     
     Prince Edward Island delegates. On November let, the Honorable 
     
     Len Marchand, Minister of the.Environment made a brief statement 
     
     and remained for a short time to hear delegates express some of 
     
     the problems they are encountering. The remainder of the day 
     
     was spent discussing the changing role of citizens groups in 
     
     Canada. Fund raising, volunteerism, gaining access to the media 
     
     and strategies for effective implementation of programs were 
     
     discussed. On the second day, representatives from the Federal 
     
     Government presented us with the government rationale for its 
     
     energy policy, the importance placed on nuclear energy programs 
     
     and the toxic waste problem in Canada. Delegates had an 
     
     opportunity to question government positions on these issues. 
     
     The need for and a desirable structure of a National Coalition 
     
     of citizens groups with environmental concerns was discussed 
     
    

    
     but no conclusive action was taken. 
     
    
   
   
    
     This meeting was an extremely valuable opportunity for delegates 
     
     to effect an information exchange and also to give public 
     
     exposure to local concerns of national import. Mr. Gilbert Savard, 
     
     from the Department of the Environment and editor of "Citizens 
     
     Bulletin" offered to distribute the publication to anyone interested 
     
     and asked groups to submit articles about issues they would like 
     
     publicized. If you would like to join the mailing list, write to: 
     
    

    
     Citizens Bulletin - Mailing list 
     
    

    
     Information Service Directorate ‘ 
     
    

    
     Fisheries and Environment Canada 
     
    

    
     10th floor, Fontaine Building 
     
    

    
     Ottawa, Ontario 
     
    

    
     KIA 0H3 
     
    
   
   
    
     John Swaigen from the Canadian Environmental Law Association offered 
     
     to send the Environmental Law Newsletter to anyone requesting it. 
     
     Staff from the office of Energy Conservation (Department of Energy, 
     
     Mines and Resources) explained how their office could be of use to 
     
     citizens groups. They have prepared a bibliography of literature on 
     
     energy conservation and energy alternatives and a guide to the 
     
    

    
     Federal Bureaucracy is being planned so that people seeking assistance 
     
     from a government department will successfully contact them. They can 
     
     assist groups by organizing symposia and distributing information. 
     
    
   
   
    
     On November 23rd, approximately twenty delegates from six provinces 
     
     (Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, 
     
     Quebec and British Columbia) met to discuss present aeria, spray 
     
     programs especially with reference to aerial spraying of insecticides 
     
     for spruce budworm. Each province outlined their governmentls policy 
     
     on aerial spraying of insecticides. As a result, a national 
     
     Coalition Against Aerial Spraying (C.A.A.S.) was formed and the 
     
     Canadian Nature Federation agreed to act as its secretariat. For 
     
     further information on the Budworm Coalition see following press 
     
     release from Canadian Nature Federation. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Kathy Martin 
     
     Biology Dept. 
     
     University of Prince Edward Island