|
|
Project Overview - Public Consultation
Public involvement has been and continues to be a critical element of the environmental assessment process for the Red River Floodway Expansion Project. Before construction could proceed on the project, the Manitoba Floodway Authority (MFA) required:
- preparation of an independent Environmental Impact Assessment
- a license under the provincial Environmental Act, and
- federal environmental authorization
Under the provisions of the Canada-Manitoba Agreement on Environmental Assessment Cooperation, Manitoba and Canada agreed that both governments would participate in a cooperative review of the proposed project, which was led by Manitoba and addressed both provincial and federal regulatory requirements. The process included the following components:
- Independent Environmental Impact Assessment - This separate and independent process is intended to provide early and ongoing opportunities for citizens to receive information on, and provide their views about potential project effects, measures to mitigate those effects and various other requirements associated with the project's environmental impact.
Since January, 2004, four distinct rounds of public consultation - three of which occurred before the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) was filed - have taken place featuring meetings with local municipal governments, numerous multi-stakeholder workshops and public meetings in Selkirk, East Selkirk, Oakbank, Dugald, Morris, Ste. Agathe, St. Norbert and Winnipeg.
For more information, on the independent environmental review process, click here.
- Manitoba Legislature - The Province of Manitoba has passed The Red River Floodway Act - which is designed to provide compensation for artificial spring flooding caused on the Red River. Manitobans had an opportunity to comment on the Act through the normal legislative process click here.
- Manitoba Floodway Authority - The Province of Manitoba has passed the The Floodway Authority Act which is designed to outline the responsibilities of the Manitoba Floodway Authority (MFA). MFA has been established to oversee the planning and management of the project and to consult Manitobans regarding the expansion project, including groundwater protection, erosion control, employment and training, and recreation and economic development opportunities. MFA reported outcomes to Manitoba and the Independent Environmental Impact Assessment. Manitobans had an opportunity to comment on the Act through the normal legislative process. For more information on the Floodway Autority Act, click here.
- Clean Environment Commission - Once the environmental impact assessment was completed, reviewed and accepted by Manitoba, the Clean Environment Commission conducted four weeks of public hearings on the expansion project in February and March of 2005. As part of the CEC environmental review process, the MFA provided $300,000 to support seven organizations to participate in the hearings. For more information about the Clean Environment Commission, click here.
Announcement
Back to top
|
|
