Soil temperatures and moistures were monitored in two Alberta field sites from May, 1997 to September 1998. Nitrogen (N) mineralization rates were measured using ion exchange membranes in the field from June 1997 to May 1998. In association with this monitoring intact organic horizon cores (LFH) and homogenized Ae cores from Alberta and Quebec were incubated under various conditions between 231 and 313 days. Every 14-28 days, each core was leached with 0.01 M CaCl$\sb 2$ for mineral N determination. To accommodate variability in soil N content and site history, results were normalized to a soil N basis. Results indicate net N mineralization is horizon specific not site specific; net N mineralization over long times was weakly related to lower soil temperatures; and differences in moisture tension did not create differences in specific net N mineralization. A protocol is proposed to estimate N mineralization from soils across Canada for use by present and future forest managers.