Overview:
The activities of the Chiefs of Ontario are governed by the Political
Confederacy (PC). The purpose of the Chiefs of Ontario office is
to enable the four PTO’s and Independent First Nations to
discuss and decide on regional, provincial, federal and national
priorities affecting First Nations and to provide a unified voice
on these issues. The main objective of the Chiefs of Ontario office
is facilitate the discussion, planning, implementation and evaluation
of all local, regional, provincial, federal and national matters
affecting the First Nations in Ontario. The PC has mandated the
Environment Coordinator to establish a Chiefs of Ontario Environment
Committee (COEC).
Scope:
The committee will focus on environmental
issues impacting First Nations and First Nation communities including
water, fisheries, natural resources, mining, climate change, species
at risk and any other environmental issues.
Purpose:
The purpose of the committee is to provide
advise, guidance, and recommendations to PC and the Chiefs of Ontario
as they relate to environmental issues as directed by resolutions.
This may include the development of strategies to deal with the
environmental issues facing First Nations and liaise with federal
and provincial governments.
Mandate:
The mandate of the committee is to
support the COO Environment Unit in:
- providing advise and recommendations to PC regarding;
- conflicts between government guidelines, policy, regulations
and legislation,
- resource requirements for the Environment Unit and
- other operational matters.
- developing strategies as they relate to environmental issues,
- developing a working and information sharing relationship
that encourages communication linkages among First Nations and
political confederacies
- Liaise with federal and provincial governments,
- Liaise with private sectors, industry and non-governmental
organizations.
Membership:
A designated core of members will
consist of First Nation technicians appointed by each PC and the
Environment Coordinator for COO.
Operating Principles and Procedures:
The committee
will strive to operate on a consensus basis, in the interest of
developing appropriate advice and recommendations to PC. Consensus
is defined as agreement by all members of the committee. In cases
where consensus cannot be reached, recommendations will be presented
to PC, including the recommendation of the non-consensus. The views
of the non-consensus member(s) will be made known to PC.
All members will participate as equals. There is mutual respect
for all opinions and perspectives around the table. The committee
will work collaboratively by mutually recognizing and respecting
the legitimacy and presence of all participants.
The committee will meet on a regular basis, to be determined
by the members. The COO Environment Coordinator is required to
attend all meetings.
Meetings will be convened by the Environment Coordinator at the
request of the committee members and the minutes of all meetings
will be recorded. The Environment Coordinator will notify absent
members of all decisions made and provide any missed meeting materials/information.
The reporting relationship on issues defined within the committee’s
agenda is directly from the Environment Coordinator to the PC.
All agenda items will be submitted 5 working days in advance of
the meetings.
Evaluation Mechanism
Evaluation of the activities
of the committee will take place prior to the end of each fiscal
year. Evaluation will be based on the committee’s level of
success in collectively achieving strategic goals and objectives
set out in the strategic plan. A fiscal report will be compiled
and evaluated by committee members and presented to PC and at the
Annual Chiefs Assembly.
Roles and Responsibilities
The Chiefs of Ontario Environmental Committee will focus on achieving
action and concrete results and providing PC with recommendations
to meet environmental challenges faced by the COO. |
