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Opening Remarks from the Conference Co-Chairs – Future Think: Facilitating Resource Development and Environmental Stewardship

George Hegmann
Senior Principal
Stantec

Cumulative Effects Assessment (CEA) is frequently evolving with a larger view on increasing sustainability through regional and strategic assessments. It is also managing and influencing how we look and prepare for a rapidly changing global dynamic which includes climate change. The new Federal Impact Assessment Act (IAA) and other initiatives offer opportunities and challenges in adapting to the future of Canada in the global commons. How this will unfold will be explored under a balance between facilitation of development and environmental stewardship.

Response to Land-Cover Disturbance Changes with the Amount of Cumulative Disturbance

Abbie Stewart
Wildlife and Landscape Ecologist/Scientific Advisor
MSES

• Exploring how human disturbance has progressed over time and the changes we are seeing in the ecosystems that are present in the Alberta boreal forest
• Discussing measured changes in biodiversity and predator-prey systems and the species-at-risk that are part of these systems
• Discussing re-establishment of pre-disturbance conditions to manage the novel ecosystems that are currently being established and the need to reverse the trend of disturbance in the boreal forest

Cumulative Effects Management within the Fish and Fish Habitat Protection Program

Under the modernized Fisheries Act, 2019, the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard has an obligation to consider cumulative effects as outlined in Paragraph 34.1 (1) (d) of the Act. This presentation will describe some of the challenges, opportunities and concepts underlying the consideration of cumulative effects by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO).

Areas of analysis include the intersection of natural and anthropogenic impacts, information availability and dissemination, and interpretations of DFO’s authority to take steps to mitigate cumulative effects.

Networking Refreshment Break

Assessing Legislative Changes and Significance for Industry

Confirmed Representative

Impact Assessment Agency of Canada

• Discussion and explanation of how the new Impact Assessment Act will work for proponents of major projects; positive and negative effects for industry
• What are the key steps to manage a project’s environmental, socio-economic, cultural and health impacts?
• How will industry address requirements for early planning phase?
• How will federal departments interact and how are they working together to facilitate and enact legislative changes? (Climate Change Canada, Transport, Natural Resources)

REGIONAL ASSESSMENTS AND FRAMEWORK STUDIES ACROSS CANADA

Tara Arko
Director, Technical Services
Nunavut Impact Review Board

Nick Barnes
President
Barnes Environmental Consulting

Cheryl Chetkiewicz
Conservation Scientist
Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Canada

Sarah Depoe
Director, Cumulative Effects Assessment Section
Environment and Parks, Government of Alberta

Moderator:

George Hegmann
Senior Principal
Stantec

Part 1: Panel – Comparisons and Lessons from

Panelists:
Speakers will provide key updates from their region, followed by facilitated panel discussion. Panelists will discuss challenges, lessons learned, innovations and new opportunities

ALBERTA
Sarah Depoe
Director, Cumulative Effects
Assessment Section
Environment and Parks, Government of Alberta

Progression of Alberta’s Land Use Framework and scales of assessment

• Reviewing how the policy and regulatory framework is working
• Cumulative effects management and key components of the process
• How are the key players coordinating and integrating strategies?

BRITISH COLUMBIA
Tara Arko
Director, Technical Services
Nunavut Impact Review Board

Insights and approaches managing the environmental impact assessment process when considering development in an Arctic environment.

MANITOBA
Nick Barnes
President
Barnes Environmental Consulting

The regulatory status in Manitoba

• Regional Cumulative Effects Assessment – what’s working
• Resource management areas and land use planning – progress and changes
• Watershed districts and integrated watershed management planning

ONTARIO
Cheryl Chetkiewicz
Conservation Scientist
Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Canada

Regional level cumulative effects assessment in Ontario’s far north

Networking Lunch for Delegates and Speakers

REGIONAL ASSESSMENTS AND FRAMEWORK STUDIES ACROSS CANADA Part II: Environmental Stewardship in Treaty 8

Nathan Paul Prince
Traditional Land Use Coordinator
McLeod Lake Indian Band Land Stewardship

For the last 5 years, the ESI has been providing a model for collaboration on stewardship designed to give meaningful effect to reconciliation and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).

The Regional Strategic Environmental Assessment (RSEA) agreement between the Province and seven Treaty 8 First Nations laid the groundwork for how the parties will work together in a shared decision-making model under the ESI.

This session will discuss the Cumulative Effects Assessment approach and the methodologies and the results from the RSEA project. Results will be used to draft management recommendations which are expected to inform future natural resource management decisions.

Overview of the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada’s National Regional Assessment Program

Steve Bonnell
Manager Strategic & Regional Assessments
Impact Assessment Agency Canada

• Role and benefits of regional assessments in assessing and addressing cumulative effects
• Potential approaches and outcomes of regional assessments with respect to cumulative effects
• Some key considerations related to how cumulative effects are addressed in regional assessments

The Assessment of Cumulative Impacts on Aboriginal and Treaty Rights

Diana Audino
Senior Legal Counsel, Indigenous Law
Enbridge

Bryn Gray
Partner
McCarthy Tétrault

How the assessment of cumulative impacts on Aboriginal and treaty rights has been considered in Canadian Jurisprudence, how it compares to the assessment of Cumulative environmental effects, and how it could be improved going forward.

Networking Refreshment Break

Working Proactively with Stakeholders for Project Approvals – Industry Case Study

Sheila Risbud
Director Government Affairs
Teck Resources

This session will discuss Teck’s experience in working with government, stakeholders and Indigenous groups to achieve responsible resource development.

Managing and Transforming the Disconnect with Indigenous Knowledge and the Regulatory Process – Cumulative Effects Management in Alberta’s Oil Sands

Michael Evans
Senior Manager, Government and Industry Relations
Fort McKay First Nations

Carla Davidson
Principal
Endeavour Scientific

This session will discuss the creation of the terms of reference for the Oil Sands Monitoring Program (OSM), the development of its Strategic Plan, the integration of scientific and Indigenous Knowledge, and the deployment of research teams investigating a wide range of cumulative effects.

• Assessing Alberta’s new Oil Sands Monitoring Program (OSM) and the governance structure
• How is the program working to assess cumulative effects and provide data to support management action?
• Challenges associated with cumulative effects management – mainstream v. Indigenous world views

Closing Remarks from the Conference Co-Chair