Please be advised that NOTICE OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING for the Fiscal Year ending March 31, 2011 is hereby given in accordance with the FSC Canada By-Laws. Said Annual General Meeting will take place as follows:
DATE: October 5th, 2011
TIME: 2:30pm-4:30pm
LOCATION: Hotel Novotel (Toronto Centre), 45 The Esplanade, Toronto, Ontario M5E 1W2
The following resolutions will be discusses and voted on by the FSC Canada members in person or by proxy at the 2011 AGM.
Submitted by: Harry St.-Denis, Wolf Lake First Nation Seconded by: Bradley Young, National Aboriginal Forestry Association (NAFA)
Be it resolved that: FSC Canada shall establish a Quebec regional working group process with participation from FSC Canada, Quebec government, FSC certifiers, FSC certified companies and interested First Nations, as soon as possible, to clarify the obligations and responsibilities of the Quebec government and FSC certified forestry companies to First Nations in order to ensure continued compliance with FSC Principle 3 in the Great Lakes St. Lawrence and Boreal FSC Regional Standards prior to the Quebec Sustainable Forest Development Act taking effect on April 1, 2013.
The Quebec National Assembly has passed the Sustainable Forest Development Act, which is scheduled to take effect on April 1, 2013. The Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador, the Wolf Lake First Nation and other First Nations made interventions to the responsible Quebec National Assembly committee to seek amendments to the new forest act that would recognize and respect the Aboriginal and Treaty rights of First Nations. Unfortunately, the requests of First Nations and their organizations were ignored with the passage of the Quebec Sustainable Forest Development Act. This new Quebec forest act only “take account” of the “interests, values and needs of the Native communities”. The new Quebec forest act also seems to limit these “interests, values and needs” to merely “domestic, ritual or social activities pursued by the community”. There is no explicit mention in the new Quebec forest act of the Aboriginal and Treaty rights of First Nations. Moreover, a legal review of Quebec’s 2008 Native Consultation Guide commissioned by the Algonquin Nation Secretariat found six main problems with the 2008 Native Consultation Guide. Under these circumstances it would be prudent for FSC Canada to set up a regional working-group of affected parties in order to anticipate and prevent problems with FSC Certifications in Quebec because of the potential lack of compliance with FSC Principle 3 under the new Quebec forest act.
No vote required ** This resolution was passed by FSC Canada members on August 5th, 2011 by electronic ballot. Members are invited to provide comment on this resolution, however no new vote is required.** Submitted and seconded by: FSC Canada Board of Directors (2010-2011)
Be it resolved that: The FSC Canada By-Laws be amended as follows to require that all Directors of FSC Canada be members of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). Proposed amendments to the FSC Canada By-Laws: - Section 9: DELETE: “Directors need not be members” and ADD: “Directors must be members of FSC International, duly designated delegates of an FSC International member organization, or applicants for FSC International membership in good standing.” - Section 17: DELETE: “Directors who are not FSC members shall have a vote as members in matters pertaining the Canadian Initiative, while serving as Directors.” - Section 61: DELETE: “The repeal or amendment of such by-laws shall not be enforced or acted upon until the approval of the Minister of Industry has been obtained.”
FSC Members that are unable to attend the FSC Canaa Annual General Assembly, are requested to nominate a proxy using the MEMBER PROXY FORM and designate either another member (click here for a list of FSC Canada Members) or the Secretary of the Board to serve as a proxy on their behalf.
It is with great pleasure that we announce the new FSC Canada Board of Directors for 2011-2012. Please join us in welcoming the members of the 2011-2012 Board of Directors, who will take office October 3rd, 2011.
Click here to view 2011-2012 Board of Director biographies.
Aboriginal Peoples Chamber Wade Cachagee, Individual Bradley Young, National Aboriginal Forestry Association (NAFA)
Economic Chamber Chris McDonell, Tembec Inc. Henry Sauvagnat, Cascades Inc.
Environmental Chamber John Cathro, Individual Chris Henschel, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS)
Social Chamber Valerie Courtois, Individual Orrin Quinn, Ecotrust Canada
More FSC News...