"Shortly after the establishment of the Canadian Environmental Advisory Council in 1973, it became obvious to the members that many of the problems coming to their attention were shared by a variety of like bodies set up to advise the provincial governments. Accordingly, the Council took the initiative of convening a conference with the provincial councils which was held in Ottawa in 1975. This was the beginning of a series of annual assemblies at which the federal and provincial councils reviewed their activities, assessed their successes and failures, shared opinions, discussed mutual concerns, and became better acquainted with the diversities and similarities of environmental problems in Canada"--Preface.