September 15, 2025 - Indigenous Services Canada has determined that the proposed Construction of a Micro-Subdivision on Taykwa Tagamou Nation is not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects. The determination was made based on a consideration of the following factors:

• There will be a positive impact on the rights of Indigenous peoples, specifically Taykwa Tagamou Nation community members, associated with the construction of the housing lots. New homes for community members will be built on the lots as a response to the on-reserve housing needs expressed by many Indigenous communities;
•  The community had been engaged during the selection process and agreed upon a location for the micro-subdivision;
• There have been no comments received by the public; and
• During construction activities, mitigation measures that ensure the protection of the environment and safety of community members will be implemented. Mitigation measures proposed for the project have been prepared and reviewed by ISC.

Implementation of mitigation measures is required to address:

• Noise: Temporary noise impacts from the use of heavy equipment and construction activities.
• Air Quality: Fugitive dust from construction activities and emissions from construction vehicles.
• Soil: Potential for soil erosion, localized soil quality impacts due to spills, localized soil quality impacts as a result of improper fuel handling and storage, and risk of altering surface drainage patterns;
• Vegetation: loss of vegetation/habitat loss (forest habitat) and encountering protected Species at Risk (SAR) or their habitat as defined in the Species at Risk Act and as listed under Schedule 1;
• Migratory and Other Birds: Potential disturbance or harm to birds, their nests or their eggs; and
• Terrestrial Wildlife: Potential disturbance or harm to terrestrial wildlife, blocking of movement corridor, encountering SAR or their habitat.

Proposed mitigations are as follows:

• Noise: The Contractor shall only work between the hours of 7:00 am and 7:00 pm. All vehicles will be properly tuned up and include noise muffling devices, and equipment will be properly maintained or replaced so the applicable sound emission limits will be respected;
• Air Quality: The Contractor shall apply dust and emissions control measures, as required, such as vehicle and equipment will be inspected to ensure they are in good repair, on-site vehicle and equipment idling will be discouraged and where practical, limited, dust generation from construction activities is to be controlled using water sprayers, where applicable, and stockpiles and exposed soils/surfaces will be covered with erosion control blankets, tarpaulins, soil binders or other appropriate means, where practical. The Contractor is to inspect and repair erosion control and stabilization controls regularly, and ensure they are effective in minimizing dust into the air, vehicles hauling soil, aggregates or fine or dusty material will be covered to minimize the generation of dust, etc..;
• Soil: The Contractor shall provide a spill prevention plan and erosion and silt control (ESC) plan which will include minimizing the area of bare slopes and exposed soils, delays between land clearance and re-vegetation will be limited, re-fueling of equipment and fuel storage is to be conducted in designated areas with spill protection. Waste oil and hazardous materials must be stored at designated area with spill protection until they can be removed by certified hazardous waste haulers. The Spill Action Centre (Ontario) will be contacted and efforts will be made to clean-up the spill as soon as possible (as long as this can be done safely) should a spill occur. Every attempt must be made to avoid disrupting identifed natural drainage routes and culverts will be installed where necessary;
• Vegetation: Disturbance to existing vegetation will be minimized and disturbed areas will be stabilized and re-vegetated upon project completion, and the Contractor is to immediately notify Chief and Council, as well as ISC, and a stop-work order will be immediately issued if any of the protected Species at Risk plant species is encountered during construction. Work is not to proceed until an investigation is completed by a qualified biologist in collaboration with the appropriate regulatory agencies;
• Migratory and Other Birds: The Contractor will complete a site walkover prior to construction activities commencing looking for migratory birds or SAR birds and their nests. Work will be carried out in a manner that protects migratory birds and avoids harming, killing or disturbing migratory birds or destroying, disturbing or taking their nests or eggs, following Environment and Climate Change Canada's (ECCC) guidelines to avoid harm to migratory birds. Vegetation removal required for the project will be completed outside of the migratory bird nesting season at the community; and
• Terrestrial Wildlife: the Contractor will complete a site walkover prior to construction activities commencing looking for terrestrial SAR. Should, at any time, an individual of a SARA protected species wildlife be encountered in the work area, all project activities in the immediate area must cease until the individual leaves the area of its own accord. Should the individual be unable or unwilling to leave the site, ECCC Canadian Wildlife Service will be contacted to provide advice or discuss obtaining a SARA permit. If it is a Special Concern or other wildlife species, individuals can be removed by the Environmental Inspector outside the exclusion fencing if all other actions have been attempted and were not successful.

Indigenous Services Canada is satisfied that the carrying out of the project is not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects. Therefore, Indigenous Services Canada may carry out the project, exercise any power, perform any duty or function, or provide financial assistance to enable the project to be carried out in whole or in part.