DAY 1: Wednesday, October 25, 2023
Details
Traditional Opening & Welcoming Remarks (Gary Pritchard, Curve Lake)
⏱ 9:05 am to 9:10 amPresident’s Welcome (Beth Williston)
⏱ 9:10 am to 9:15 amKeynote Address (Gary Pritchard, Directions Conservation)
⏱ 9:15 am to 9:45 am
a. Impact of Land & Water
⏱ 9:45 am to 10:15 amAre Impact & Environmental Assessments Still Harming Indigenous Peoples?
Development, climate change, and colonialism have undoubtedly impacted many ecosystems within Canada and the world. Forests, wetlands, rivers, and lakes all play a critical role in the spiritual and cultural life of the Michi Saagiig Nishnaabeg. Through generations, the Michi Saagiig have developed relationships with the land and waters that reflect intimate local knowledge of place. Despite this history, Indigenous peoples have largely been excluded from impact assessments. This presentation will introduce participants to the Michi Saagiig and their territory, Indigenous worldviews on reclaiming, restoring, and rewilding nature, and examine how current Western approaches to ecological restoration uphold or infringe upon Indigenous Rights
Moderator:
- Kevin Hanna, University of British Columbia
Presenter:
- Gary Pritchard, CEO, Senior Ecologist, 4 Directions of Conservation Consulting Services
b. Effective Indigenous Consultation
⏱ 10:30 am – 11:00 amThe Changing Landscape of Meaningful Indigenous Engagement
This panel will share their experiences on leading projects with Indigenous engagement components across Ontario. Presenters will focus; particularly on emerging changes to the environmental impact assessment process regarding Indigenous engagement as well as how proponents are bolstering their expectations for what that engagement includes. The panel will draw on their recent project experience and present their learnings from Indigenous engagement on recent transit projects, residential developments, and Environmental Assessments. Emphasis will be placed on lessons learned, best practices, and future expectations for Indigenous engagement, with the goal of preparing the audience to adapt to the new landscape of delivering projects.Moderator:
- Kevin Hanna, University of British Columbia
Presenters:
- Jeremiah Pariag, Consultation & Engagement Lead, HDR
- Sandy Nairn, Environmental Sciences & Planning Director, Canada, HDR
- Janine Ralph, Planning Services Cross Sector Manager, Canada, HDR
Panel Discussion: With Gary, Jeremiah, Sandy, Janine & Laura
⏱ 11:00 am -11:30 am
Details
a. Innovative and Changing Approaches
⏱ 11:30 am – 12:00 pmResearch & Innovation in Impact Assessment
The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada will focus on the theme of innovative approaches and quick wins by highlighting recent research completed under the Agency’s research program. The session will build awareness of the program, highlight recent partnerships, and share innovative approaches in impact assessment methodology such as tools and resources for supporting high quality and inclusive assessments. An interactive workshop will follow the presentation to engage participants on themes and priorities for future research priorities.
Moderator:
- Blair Shoniker, Senior Waste & Environmental Planner, GHD
Presenters:
- Michael Grassie, Manager, Science & Research Impact Assessment Agency of Canada
- Jenna Wolno, Operational Policy Officer, Impact Assessment Agency of Canada
????️ LUNCH
⏱ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
b. Deregulation
⏱ 1:00 pm – 1:20 pmCase Study in Highway Exemptions – Do They Meet the Goals of IA?
Re case study in attempted deregulation of 2 highways in Ontario – Highway 413 and Bradford Bypass. Avoiding delays and moving towards certainty is not the goal of IA. The goal of IA is to move towards more sustainable solutions to problems facing society and to advance reconciliation with First Nations (FNs). Exemptions undermine the foundations of IA and cause the very delays and uncertainty that proponents are trying to avoid. Exemptions also undermine meaningful consultation with the public and FNs – which will inevitably cause delay.
Moderator:
- Blair Shoniker, Senior Waste & Environmental Planner, GHD
Presenter:
- Laura Bowman, Senior Staff Lawyer, Ecojustice Canada
c. Advancing Biodiversity Considerations Through Impacts Assessment
⏱ 1:20 pm – 1:45 pmPrinciples and Guidance for Assessing and Safeguarding Biodiversity Through Project Assessment Under the Impact Assessment Act
The Impact Assessment Act requires assessments to consider the extent to which projects help or hinder Canada’s ability to meet its environmental obligations, including the goals and targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework ratified by parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in December 2022.
Presenters will explore how assessments can better assess biodiversity effects and help us meet our biodiversity obligations. They will discuss the relevant Canadian legal and policy landscape, identifies gaps and challenges in assessing biodiversity effects in impact assessment, outlines key principles for assessing biodiversity effects, and recommends ways to incorporate those principles in project-level assessment.
Moderator:
- Blair Shoniker, Senior Waste & Environmental Planner, GHD
Presenter:
- Anna S A Johnston, Staff Lawyer, West Coast Environmental Law
- Justina Ray, President and Senior Scientist, Wildlife Conservation Society Canada
d. Advancing Sustainable Development of Natural Resources Through Applied Research
⏱ 1:45 pm – 2:15 pmNRCan’s Selecting Terrestrial Areas Initiative: Prioritizing Study Areas to Conduct Cumulative Effects (CE) Research to Support the Potential Need for Science, Technical Advice, and Knowledge in Resource Development Projects
Accounting for CE of natural resource projects is an important part of impact assessments. With the anticipated future development of numerous critical minerals, renewable energy, and sustainable forestry projects, many of which will overlap geographically with current and past development, there is a need to advance research to better understand and manage CE. NRCan is currently undertaking an initiative to help guide its researchers on potential study areas and to encourage interdisciplinary collaboration. In this presentation, we highlight our work to date and seek feedback from members of the IA community.
Moderator:
- Blair Shoniker, Senior Waste & Environmental Planner, GHD
Presenters:
- Christina Clarke, Team Lead, Natural Resources Canada
- Brian G. Eddy, Research Scientist, Ecosystems Analyst, Natural Resources Canada
- Alison Milan, Policy Analyst, Natural Resources Canada
Q&A with Michael, Jenna, Laura, Anna, Christina, Brian & Alison
⏱ 2:15 pm – 2:30 pm
☕️ Break & Networking: 2:30 PM – 2:50 PM
Details
a. Innovative Approaches
⏱ 2:50 pm – 3:10 pmSustainable Infrastructure Planning and Delivery: A Digital Transformation
Delivering an ambitious infrastructure program requires a new approach. An approach that not only promotes engagement, but also decreases the time required to make decisions on projects – increasing accessibility for project stakeholders and community members. Cloud-based, interactive solutions will be essential to deliver these projects on task and on time with better outcomes for all.
AECOM’s PlanEnage™ platform streamlines report delivery by allowing project teams to craft interactive digital reports: blending text, geospatial data, multimedia functionality, and digital engagement tools. An integrated review and commenting workflow ensure stakeholders and communities have continuous access throughout
a project’s lifespan.Moderator:
- Catherine Gentile, Senior Environmental Planner and Environmental Impact Assessment Team Lead, WSP
Presenters:
- Rayna Carmichael, Digital/ GIS Manager, Environment Canada AECOM
- Mauricio Palomin, Vice President, Global Digital Leader, SaaS
b. Better Practices
⏱ 3:10 pm – 3:30 pmAdvancing Digital Technologies to Improve the Regulators Plan Input and Review Commenting System
Through our new fully digitized, web-based cloud platform, planning and permit review, approval and enforcement are modernizing at the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority! Through automation, modern interfaces and communication instruments will provide for streamlined coordination between staff and clients. An interactive dashboard will provide for real-time status updates. Incorporating BlueBeam Studio PrimeTM into our review will allow for real time and interactive collaboration. Future integrations will allow for APIs to be built, making integration with municipal, agency and private enterprise planning solutions in our jurisdiction a reality.
Moderator:
- Catherine Gentile, Senior Environmental Planner and Environmental Impact Assessment Team Lead, WSP
Presenters:
- Beth Williston, Associate Director, Infrastructure Planning and Permits, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority
- Mark McKnight, Chief Information Officer, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority
Panel Discussion with Ray, Mauricio, Beth & Mark
⏱ 3:30 pm – 3:45 pm
Details
a. Modernized Approaches and Benefits to Infrastructure Planning
⏱ 3:45 pm – 4:10 pmFocusing Impact Assessment on Key Issues
The Impact Assessment Act (IAA) seeks to balance protection of environmental, health, social and economic conditions, in a precautionary manner, with assessment processes that are timely, fair, predictable, and efficient. To meet these objectives, the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) sets the scope of the impact assessment in project-specific Tailored Impact Statement Guidelines issued at the end of the Planning Phase. This presentation will detail
IAAC’s approach to developing guidelines focused on the key issues for decision making and will present preconditions for successful tailoring with a discussion of two case studies.
Moderator:
- Sarah Duignan, Social Scientist, Two Worlds Consulting
Presenter:
- Brian Giles, Senior Policy Analyst
b. Modernized Approaches and Benefits to Infrastructure Permitting and Construction
⏱ 4:10 pm – 4:30 pmEarly Permits, Licences, Approvals and Agreements (PLAA) Collaboration within Environmental Impact Assessments
Requests for Permits, Licenses, Approvals and Agreements (PLAA) efforts within Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) submissions has been increasing over the years. While PLAA is a niche profession when it comes to environmental work, it is integral that it be collaborated on within EIA projects early to ensure that communications and the understanding of changing project expectations are known and PLAA work can appropriately adapt as the EIA team navigates design processes. This ensures a seamless transition from EIA to construction. Our presentation will explore why early PLAA integration is important, referencing project examples.
Moderator:
- Sarah Duignan, Social Scientist, Two Worlds Consulting
Presenters:
- Mir Talpur, WSP
- Catherine Gentile, Senior Environmental Planner and Team Lead, WSP
c. Modernized Approaches to EAs in Ontario
⏱ 4:30 pm – 4:55 pmEnvironmental Assessment Modernization
The MECP will be providing an update on its efforts to modernize Ontario’s environmental assessment program
Moderator:
- Sarah Duignan, Social Scientist, Two Worlds Consulting
Presenters:
- Peter Brown, Senior Advisor – Outreach MECP
Q&A with Catherine, Mir, Brian & Ross
⏱ 4:45 pm – 4:55 pm