"So, what kind of perks are you getting?" is an obvious question we get asked as youth journalists covering the United Nations Earth Summit + 5. And while we've had some glitches and near nervous breakdowns, who can complain when it earns us the opportunity to ask a question of Canadian Prime Minister, Jean Chretien. Or even better, a conversation with Canada's newly appointed Environment Minister, Christine Stewart!

Tons of other adult journalists (translated in their minds as real journalists) were fighting for these opportunities and we, the newest journalists on the block, got them.

Now I know you are scratching your head and wondering "What did they ask?"

Don't strain yourself. I will end your curiosity by giving you the highlights.

But first, lean back in your chair, clear your mind. Imagine a posh room with a shiny square mahogany table, two large book cases filled with impressive volumes. A bright blue mural of a city-scape dominates another wall. In the midst of all this splendour, nine young people in business suits and jeans, sit with Canada's Environment Minister, Christine Stewart.

Are you imagining the scene? (oops, I guess you can also just look at the picture... that may be easier, but of course, not as creative).

Okay, now relax and close your eyes....

WAIT!! Silly me, you won't be able to read the interview that way... change of plans. Sit up and concentrate.

I know you're wondering, "When will she get to the interview?!" Sorry, got caught up in the poetry of the introduction.

Live from New York.... heeeerrrre's the interview!

[Minister Stewart:]

"It's nice to have this opportunity to sit down and hear your concerns and have a little chat."

[Scott:]

"We were just curious as to how you intend to involve youth in your term of Minister. Do you plan to do more and is there anything you want to change?."

[Minister Stewart:]

"As you know, the Minister of the Environment has a Youth Roundtable, and we have at least one member of that Roundtable as a member of the official delegation and the co-ordinator of our department is here. As well, we have some different initiatives from the Human Resources portfolio to give youth across Canada some experience in environmental issues working with environmental companies or policy areas. That's significant but as you know, there are an awful lot more youth than that in the country."

"I have a real concern about trying to communicate with as many youth as possible in the country. But, of course I can't do all that by myself. I'm going to have to find systems and processes to help that communication because it is very obvious from the science that is out there that we have to move the environmental agenda forward. First of all, to make that happen, we have to get public support. I believe that that support is out there." She backed up her statement with a Canadian poll ranking environmental issues as important to Canadians."

"Obviously for me and many others, youth represent an important constituency in moving the environmental agenda forward. The environment is your future, I want to make sure you and your children and grandchildren have a healthy environment. I don't want to get F-report cards from your children and grandchildren."

[Megan:]

"Given your strong background in human rights, it would seem that you will inevitably bring a strong human rights focus to your position as Minister. How do you see human rights and the environment linked?"

[Minister Stewart:]

"It's always been my view that in order to achieve sustainable development, you can only do so by integrating all the different sectors in your solutions. I've always used the analogy of the milk stool with three legs. Sustainable development is what you sit on and there are three legs that prop it up. If you're missing one of them, your stool will fall over and it's no longer a stool to sit on."

"One of these legs is government, including and implying good governance. Good governance has a lot to do with human rights, a good economy, good laws, a democratic system that allows for participation of the population. Another leg of that stool is civil society, that gives a voice to civil society in all its representation. And the third leg is the business sector or the economic sector. Governance is not going to work properly without a healthy economy. A healthy economy depends on a good environment. Sustainable development is the combination of economic, social and environmental issues.You need to hear from everyone. So human rights plays an important role in achieving sustainable development."

"Look at the particularities of a company working in Canada or outside Canada. A company that works abroad that doesn't respect what is considered good norms of law, a company that doesn't respect good standards of human rights, a company that doesn't respect good environmental concerns, is a company that will not be secure in its work and endeavours. Companies are more aware of the insecurities of working in a climate where governance issues are not good. For example, not many companies will be encouraged to work in Zaire where they might lose their investments because of a dictatorship, and a military coup and so on. But they are coming to realize that abuse of human rights and environmental degradation are both causes of insecurity and social unrest."

"As Minister of the Environment, there is very little, I suspect - I am just learning my portfolio - but I imagine, there is very little that I can do alone. In order to achieve results I have to work with all the different partners and different sectors, and as ME. My job will begin with my colleagues in Canada. If the Minister of Natural Resources, the Minister of Finance, The Minister of Health etc. do not understand how the environment affects our economic security in Canada, then I am not going to move very far. If I can't work together with my provincial colleages, with industrial colleages that represent different sectors of our economy and if I can't work with civil society, I am not going to achieve very much."

[Sarah:]

"I was just wondering what your favourite or most surprising thing is that you have learned so far?"

[Minister Stewart:] "I guess the most surprising thing is to learn how quickly after you take on a new responsibility you can be condemned with responsibility for everything." [She laughs] "I don't take it personally, but within a week of being sworn in as Minister of Environment, I got an F report card. I've never gotten and F report card in all my life, but suddenly that is something I have to take on as the representative of the government. I don't think it is necessarily a fair report card or reflection on our record but it is certainly something I need to address."

I think very often those statements reflect confidence in what the government is doing or not doing. That's why it's important to share information and dialogue with Canadians in all sectors so the notion is not out there that it is not the Minister of the Environment, it is not the Department of the Environment, Environment Canada, it is not the Government of Canada and its different departments that are responsible for the environment, but that it is all of us together who are responsible for our environment and the status that it exists in and what we are doing to improve it."

[Bindu:]

"Minister Stewart, five years ago you were in Rio and at that point did you think that you would be Minister of the Environment?"

[Minister Stewart:]

"No... no!!" she laughs.

[Bindu:]

"Could you tell us a little bit about your role in Rio, and where do you see yourself in another 5 years?"

[Minister Stewart:]

She laughs loudly. "Don't ask. I sometimes wonder if I'll make it from one year to the other and to see another day. I certainly had no idea in Rio that years later I would be Minister of the Environment. It was never my desire to be, although I was very interested in the Environment. Five years ago in Rio, I was there as part of the opposition, a member of parliament and the government had a large official delegation that attended Rio and I was one of that delegation. Nine years ago I never knew I was going to be a member of parliament, let alone Minister of the Environment. I guess I learned in life never to guess what might happen next, but to grasp what is there at the moment and do my best."

[Megan:]

"We know there is controversy between the United States and other nations over the creation of a Forestry Convention. Why does Canada want the convention and given the controversy, what do you think is the likelihood that it will be accepted?"

[Minister Stewart:]

"A convention has the effect of making your practices more binding, though not necessarily legally binding. I think Rio helped the international community to focus more on the importance of forests. I remember in Rio the main opposition to forestry came from countries like Malaysia, and five years later, Malaysia is one of our chief partners trying to improve forestry practices world wide."

"I think having a convention will help all of us who care about forests in Canada to put more pressure on Canada to make sure our forestry practices are the best they can possibly be. But, recognizing at the same time that forestry is part of our economy so it's a balance. But, we are also a trading nation and we want to, as a nation, trade in forest products. To work from a level playing field and an international convention helps and support us because says to every nation of the world, these are the standards and lets practice them together."

"Some of the nations who are opposing negotiation of a convention at this time say that we have enough information and we know what works and doesn't work so let's get on with it. There is nothing that would or should preclude best forestry practices being undertaken right now just because you are negotiating a forestry convention. I think you do two things at the same time."

[Scott:]

"Minister Stewart, after everything here with Earth Summit II is done with, what is next on your agenda?"

[Minister Stewart:]

"I hope to have some more time to be fully briefed on my portfolio. It has been sink or swim experiences so far, where I've just had to jump in. I plan in the next weeks and couple of months before parliament resumes, to meet as many of my partners as possible from across the country. I want to go across the country, to go and meet them, to experience first hand some of our environmental problems and some of our environmental successes. I'm a very pragmatic, hands-on kind of person so I've got to get out and meet people, see what's going on and hear from the people who are affected by different issues in the area."

[Denise:]

"Minister Stewart, many times that government creates initiatives for people to get involved, they are more suit-and-tie affairs and very removed from most young people's realities. For example, many youth could not participate here because this is so intimidating. So, I am wondering, have you had any visions about creating programs that are more let-your-hair-down and are closer to where most young people truly are?"

[Minister Stewart:]

"I think one of the challenges we have today, and it doesn't have to do with just the environment, but everything, is that we're living in a revolution in terms of knowledge. Our government recognizes that we no longer have to worry only about economic disparity between the rich and the poor in our country and around the world. We have to worry about the knowledge gaps, knowledge rich and knowledge poor in our society and around the world. That is why our government has in place the Community Access Program and the SchoolNet Program. And I understand that you are very interested in plugging into the internet with your information and so on. We are putting a lot of resources into that program, helping young people as well as more experienced educators to develop programming for the internet."

"I think that it would be interesting to me, I haven't been dwelling on this as an idea, but it would be interesting perhaps on the internet to put together your own little Rio + 5 Summits within communities across the internet. We have a problem with a river that's polluted or a community that is dependant on this kind of economy that is not environmentally friendly, how are we going to deal with that? Or maybe you want to work on a document or have your square brackets (brackets are out on text in UN documents until all countries agree that it should stay in the documen), and see if you can negotiate yourselves and understand the process of how the international community comes to consensus--because it's not easy."

[Marc:]

"This is sort of a fun question so I am going to ask it in English so you can be very descriptive."

[Minister Stewart:]

"Oh dear."

[Marc:]

"If you close your eyes and think of your favourite environmental place in Canada, where would that be?"

[Minister Stewart:]

"That's easy. That is so easy. That's my home in the great riding of North Humberland in Ontario. I have personally a small farm with my family. And it's got a lovely pond and a forest that comes down to edge of it and fields around it. There's a lot of wildlife and the air is clean and the breeze is cool."