Members and Funding

Membership in the NDG is generally project-based and is extended by invitation to senior officials from businesses and NGOs that are viewed to be progressive and constructive on the issues to be addressed. Members must have sufficient expertise and capacity to participate effectively in NDG activities or be willing to develop those attributes. Generally, an invitation results from a recommendation from an existing member or alumnus to the NDG Coordinator.

The principal source of core funding for the New Directions Group is its corporate membership, with Alcan, Dow Chemical Canada, Falconbridge and Suncor Energy providing multi-year funding to support the current NDG workplan. Specific projects of the NDG are usually funded through contributions from corporate participants in the project supplemented by contributions from foundations and government agencies. There is no membership fee for NGOs. All funds are contributed through, and managed by, Pollution Probe.

Depending on the nature of the contribution, government and foundation funders may be provided with full participation in a project they are sponsoring. Where a number of government departments are sponsoring an initiative, the participation of government representatives will be limited to one or two individuals to keep the emphasis on a dialogue between business and NGOs; however, all government sponsors are granted access to records of meetings and drafts of reports as they are developed.

For additional information on membership or sponsorship, please contact the NDG Coordinator.

Business

• Suncor

NGO

• Pollution Probe

Individual Expert

• Glen Toner
• Paul Griss