Constitution


INTERPRETATION

Definitions

2. In this Act:

"Aboriginal environmental knowledge"

"Aboriginal environmental knowledge" means a body of knowledge built up by a group of people through generations of living in close contact with nature. It includes a system of classification, a set of empirical observations about the local environment, and a system of self-management that governs resource use. The quantity of Aboriginal environmental knowledge varies among community members, depending on gender, age, social status, intellectual capability, and profession (hunter, spiritual leader, healer, etc.). With its roots firmly in the past, Aboriginal environmental knowledge is both cumulative and dynamic, building upon experience of earlier generations and adapting to the new technological and socio-economic changes of the present.

"Board"

"Board" means the Board of Directors of the Institute, and signifies the governing body of the Institute.

"Chair"

"Chair" means the Chair of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer of the Institute.

"Charter"

"Charter" means the authority of the Institute, as established by the Government of Canada in December 1995, and as announced in Backgrounders BG-95.022 and BG-95.023 to the news release made public at the time. The Charter forms an integral part of this Constitution.

"DND"

"DND" means the Department of National Defence.

"Institute"

"Institute" means the Institute for Environmental Monitoring and Research.

"Mandate"

"Mandate" means the mission and role of the Institute, as stipulated in the Charter.

"Member"

"Member" means an appointed representative on the Board of Directors.

"Military Training"

"Military training" is the authorized activities conducted under the terms of the current international MOU by armed forces based at or supported by 5 Wing Goose Bay within the designated Military Training Area, or other areas, as approved by provincial authorities. However, any Canadian Forces or NORAD activity not related to foreign military training is excluded.

"Ministers"

"Ministers" means the federal Minister of Environment and the Minister of National Defence.

"Mitigation"

"Mitigation" is an activity designed to reduce, avoid or control potential adverse environmental impacts of military training. Mitigation includes avoidance and monitoring programs conducted by DND to identify and prevent disturbance to human and sensitive wildlife locations on the ground. DND is responsible for developing and managing appropriate mitigation programs in support of its activities.

"Monitoring"

"Monitoring" means the collection and analysis of relevant data to:

a) verify accuracy and relevance of EIS-predicted environmental impacts (Institute);

b) develop, implement and demonstrate compliance with mitigation measures (DND); and to

c) support effects research, verify the effectiveness of mitigation measures and review/validate mitigation criteria (Institute).

Monitoring varies according to the activity it serves. Its purpose and design may provide initial information to scope or structure a program; ongoing data or feedback to sustain a dynamic program; or corroborating information to assist research or decision-making.

"Partner"

"Partner" means an organization with representation on the Board.

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