Process
Quick links:
Community-led Environmental Planning | Provincial Regulatory Review Process | Federal Regulatory Review Process
Community-led Environmental Planning
Inclusive environmental planning is an essential starting point for large-scale, complex projects that have potential to impact the environment.
A first step in planning the proposed Community Access Road is to complete a provincial (Ontario) Environmental Assessment (EA) and a federal Impact Assessment (IA). The EA / IA process we have undertaken to-date has determined the Final Route and identified how the proposed Community Access Road may affect the social, cultural, economic, built and natural environments. On-going consultation will help to confirm these findings.
There is value in our knowledge. Marten Falls First Nation (MFFN) has and will continue to ensure that the EA / IA process carefully addresses traditions, Indigenous Knowledge and land use, and protects sensitive traditional knowledge. Indigenous Knowledge about the routing options is welcomed and encouraged for consideration in the EA / IA.
Provincial Regulatory Review Process
In April 2018, MFFN signed a voluntary agreement with the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) committing to the application of the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act to the Project. The EA process includes two key steps:
- Development and submission of a Terms of Reference (based on Ontario’s Code of Practice); and
- Completion of an Environmental Assessment.
The Terms of Reference was approved with amendments on October 8, 2021, and the Notice of Commencement of Environmental Assessment was published on October 29, 2021.
The process will determine the preferred route for the access road and identify benefits, potential impacts and impact management strategies to be considered throughout the Project.
For more information about the Ontario Environmental Assessment process, please visit the Government of Ontario’s website for preparing environmental assessments. For more information about this Project from the Ontario Government, please see their Project Page.
Federal Regulatory Review Process
The Detailed Project Description has been accepted by the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (the Agency) and on November 29, 2019, the Agency announced that the Community Access Road requires a federal Impact Assessment.
For more information about the federal process and to view the final Agency documents, please visit the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada's website.