2. Structure of public workshops

The workshops were intended to involve as large a number of people as possible in the preparation phase leading up to the Parliamentary Committee Review of CEPA 1999. Consultants were engaged to assist in the design and to facilitate the workshops. In addition, the consultants were responsible for preparing this summary report highlighting the key issues, options and messages that were heard during the sessions.

Over 1,500 organizations, associations, networks, groups and individuals with an interest in CEPA 1999 were directly contacted about the public engagement opportunities and were given information on how to get involved. In total, approximately 475 individuals attended the six regional workshops. These individuals were affiliated with a broad cross-section of interests including: all levels of government, aboriginal groups, industry, business and the natural resource sectors (e.g., farming, fisheries and forestry), environmental non- government organizations, labour, public health and consumer groups and individual members of the Canadian public.

A more detailed description of the workshop structure and process can be found in Appendix 1.