Impact Assessment - Draft Toolkit
Do you want to know more about how development is impacting our territory can be measured and tracked? Are you looking for information about how you can get involved in our environmental and social impact assessment processes? Check out the information, videos, and links in the draft toolkit below to learn more!
The toolkit will be further developed and refined with input from an Omushkegowuk Advisory Group and an External Experts Group. Scroll to the bottom to learn about how you can join these groups and share your knowledge about our lands!
What is an impact assessment?
Check out the video series below to learn more about impact assessment:
2. Consulting Indigenous peoples in impact assessment
3. Indigenous-led impact assessments
4. Federal impact assessment process
5. Tips for getting ready for an impact assessment
Visit the following websites for more impact assessment resources and best practices:
Ontario Association for Impact Assessment
International Association for Impact Assessment
What is the federal impact assessment process?
A federal impact assessment is a planning and decision-making tool used to help determine the potential positive and negative effects of proposed projects.
Federal impact assessments are regulated by the Impact Assessment Act.
Designated projects, typically major projects, including certain mines, oil facilities, bridges, roads, and dams, usually require impact assessments. The Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada may also determine if other proposed projects must complete an impact assessment before proceeding.
To learn more about the federal process visit the following links from the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada website:
Impact assessment process – overview
Impact assessment process – timelines and outputs
Overview of the Impact Assessment Act – self-directed training
Participation of Indigenous Peoples in impact assessments
What is the provincial environmental assessment process?
In Ontario, environmental assessments ensure proponents and governments consider potential environmental effects before the start of infrastructure projects like highways, landfills, transmission lines, or power plants.
Environmental assessments differ from impact assessments by focusing only on the natural environment. Impact assessments consider both the natural environment and social, cultural, economic, and health-related indicators, as well as Indigenous rights.
To learn more about environmental assessments in Ontario, visit the links below:
Environmental Assessments (Ontario)
Consultation in Ontario’s environmental assessment process
Duty to consult with Aboriginal peoples in Ontario
Environmental assessments: consulting Indigenous communities
What is an Indigenous-led impact assessment?
An Indigenous-led impact assessment may take many forms depending on the needs and goals of the impacted community.
The processes and timelines are defined by the Indigenous group and will reflect Indigenous knowledge, worldviews, culture, values, concerns, priorities, and other interests as determined by the Indigenous group.
What is a regional assessment?
A regional assessment is a process for evaluating the potential environmental and cumulative effects of initiatives, policies, plans, or programs in a particular geographic area.
Regional assessment is intended to support more efficient project impact assessment and long-term environmental management.
To learn more about this process and how it can be used, view this interactive presentation on Regional Assessment.
The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada also provides information about Regional and Strategic Assessments.
Regional Assessment (RA) Working Group
Mushkegowuk Council has its own RA Working Group. The RA Working Group is currently developing a Terms of Reference for Regional Assessments in our communities.
Contact Alana Graham for more information: alanagraham@mushkegowuk.ca.
What projects in our traditional territory are currently in the impact assessment process?
The following projects are currently in various phases of the impact assessment process. These projects are located in Ontario’s Ring of Fire and are also in our traditional territory.
Click the links below to see additional details about each project on the Canadian Impact Assessment Registry.
Marten Falls Community Access Road
Proponent: Marten Falls First Nation
Federal Impact Assessment (IAAC): Marten Falls Community Access Road Project
- Stage of IA: EIS (due July 24, 2026 as per the Notice of Time Limit Extension)
- Notice of Commencement: November 29, 2019
Provincial Environmental Assessment (Ontario Environment, Conservation and Parks): Marten Falls community access road project
Northern Road Link Project
Proponent: Martin Falls First Nation and Webequie First Nation
Federal Impact Assessment (IAAC): Northern Road Link Project
- Stage of IA: EIS (due November 5, 2027)
- Notice of Commencement: May 23, 2023
Provincial Environmental Assessment (Ontario Environment, Conservation and Parks): Northern Road Link Project
Webequie Supply Road Project
Proponent: Webequie First Nation
Federal Impact Assessment (IAAC): Webequie Supply Road Project
- Stage of IA: EIS (due January 6, 2027 as per the Notice of Time Limit Extension)
- Notice of Commencement: November 29, 2019
Provincial Environmental Assessment (Ontario Environment, Conservation and Parks): Webequie supply road project
What is Mushkegowuk Council doing to protect land and water?
Mushkegowuk Council is leading conservation and stewardship in our territory. Taking leadership in conservation and stewardship ensures our values and Indigenous Knowledge are integrated in IA processes from the beginning.
The Mushkegowuk Council Lands and Resources Department recently completed the Draft Omushkego Wahkohtowin Conservation Plan to protect Omushkego lands and waters for future generations.
Comments are welcomed on the draft. Engagement teams from the Lands and Resources Department will visit each community to allow members to share feedback. Comments can also be sent until June 30, 2024 to Ron Grech: rongrech@mushkegowuk.ca.
Through the Project Finance for Permanence (PFP), Mushkegowuk Council is supporting the design and implementation of one of four large-scale Indigenous-led conservation initiatives that have been funded across Canada.
This includes the Omushkego Conservation Project, an Indigenous-led National Marine Conservation Area (NMCA) to protect the western shore of James Bay and the southwest shore of Hudson Bay.
How can you get involved?
Have you seen changes to the land from forestry, mines, roads, or other development? If so, consider sharing your knowledge by joining the Omushkegowuk Advisory Group. No prior impact assessment knowledge is needed. For more information on the working group and how you can participate, see the Omushkegowuk Advisory Group - call for members.
Are you an impact assessment practitioner? Consider sharing your skills and expertise by joining the External Experts Group. Additional details about the role of the working group are available in the External Experts Group Terms of Reference.
For more information about Mushkegowuk Council's involvement in impact assessments, or to submit your interest in joining these working groups, contact Alana Graham at alanagraham@mushkegowuk.ca.