Minister's Response

Date: December 13, 2019

Project:

A group of landowners holding property in the area are proposing to expand an existing drainage network for the diversion of surface water to Saline Lake from agricultural lands. Located approximately 100 kilometres northwest of Yorkton, Saskatchewan, the project would operate indefinitely and facilitate the diversion of an additional 166,751 cubic metres of water per year, approximately a 6 percent increase in capacity of the existing network.

Decision:

Non-designated project.

Reasons:

The Minister of Environment and Climate Change has considered the potential for the project to cause adverse effects within federal jurisdiction, adverse direct or incidental effects, public concern related to these effects, as well as adverse impacts on the Aboriginal and treaty rights of the Indigenous Peoples of Canada. The Minister also considered the analysis of the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada.

The Minister has reached the decision that the designation of the Project is unwarranted for the following reasons:

  • the regulatory review processes that currently apply to the Project and related consultations with Indigenous Peoples provide a robust framework to address the potential adverse aforementioned effects and concerns raised by Indigenous Peoples and members of the public. This includes:
    • licences, permits and approvals required for the Project pursuant to the Saskatchewan Water Security Agency Act, and Water Security Agency Regulations sets requirements to ensure that environmental effects are localized and mitigated within provincial jurisdiction; and
    • Interprovincial memorandum of understanding and agreements between Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba and the Government of Canada;
  • the Project must comply with relevant provisions of federal legislation, including the Fisheries Act, the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, the Species at Risk Act and the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994.

Document Reference Number: 1

Date modified: