Minister's Response with Reasons

 

Chief Virginia Gladue and Council
Ken Rich, Director, Lands Environment and Community Development Unit
Duncan's First Nation
Box 148
Brownvale, Alberta T0H 0L0
<email addresses removed>

 

Chief Virginia Gladue, Council, and Ken Rich:

 

Thank you for your letter of May 2, 2025, in which you requested a regional assessment under section 93 of the Impact Assessment Act (the IAA) of the Montney Formation region and adjoining hydrocarbon basins in northwestern Alberta. The request suggests the need to gain a greater understanding of the potential impacts, including cumulative effects, of past, current and future development on Duncan's First Nation's Aboriginal and treaty rights in the region with a focus on gathering data, and conducting a trend analysis of impacts on Indigenous physical and cultural heritage, traditional land use, culturally important sites, and Aboriginal and treaty rights.

I would like to recognize the ecological and cultural significance of the region and acknowledge your concerns regarding the historical and contemporary impacts of development on Duncan's First Nation's Aboriginal and treaty rights, including cumulative effects, in your traditional territory.

After careful consideration of your request and the recommendation made by the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC), I am of the view that a regional assessment in the Montney Formation region and adjoining hydrocarbon basins in northwestern Alberta is not warranted at this time, for the reasons described below.

Under IAAC's Policy Framework for Regional Assessment under the Impact Assessment Act, the key objective of regional assessment under the IAA is to inform and improve the effectiveness and efficiency of future federal project-specific impact assessments. At this point in time, there is limited potential for future designated physical activities in the region over the next five to ten years that an RA could inform. With respect to the two projects in the region that are currently undergoing federal impact assessment, one is not actively advancing, while the other, the Peace River Nuclear Power Project, would not alone justify a regional assessment. Furthermore, as set out in the Tailored Impact Statement Guidelines for the Peace River Nuclear Power Project, an assessment of the potential cumulative effects of the project and other physical activities that have been or will be carried out in the regional study area will be required, including the impacts on the rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Documentation related to this regional assessment request, including your request and this response, will be posted on the Canadian Impact Assessment Registry Internet site (Reference number 89557): Regional Assessment of the Montney Formation.

I appreciate you bringing your concerns to my attention and trust that you find this information helpful.

Yours truly,

<Original signed by>

The Honourable Julie Dabrusin, P.C., M.P.