Potential Regional Assessment of Pickering Lands and Contiguous Areas

Minister's response

Chief Taynar Simpson
Chief Laurie Hockaday
Chief Laurie Carr
Chief Kelly LaRocca

Michi Saagiig Williams Treaties First Nations

Dear Chiefs:

Thank you for your letter of February 20, 2026, in which you requested a regional assessment (RA) of the former Pickering airport lands (Pickering Lands) and contiguous areas of the Greater Toronto Area. The request highlights the need to address cumulative environmental, cultural, social, economic, health, and Rights-based effects of existing and future physical activities across the Pickering Lands and contiguous areas, a region entirely within Michi Saagiig Williams Treaties First Nations traditional territory. The request aims to prevent fragmented, incremental decision-making that may entrench development patterns before cumulative and Rights‑based impacts are understood.

I would like to recognize the ecological and cultural significance of the region and acknowledge your concerns regarding the historical and present impacts of development and land use changes on 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 of the Pickering Lands and contiguous areas 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 a regional assessment is to inform and improve the effectiveness and efficiency of future federal project-specific assessments. At this point, there is only one potential future physical activity in the region that a regional assessment could inform, which alone would not justify an RA. As a designated project under the Impact Assessment Act, the Alto High-Speed Rail project will require an assessment of potential cumulative effects, including impacts on Indigenous rights that may result from the project, as well as Indigenous and community knowledge and considerations related to Indigenous cultures raised with respect to carrying out the project.

I further note that Transport Canada has already conducted consultations on potential future use of the Pickering Lands to inform government decision-making. As the government is expected to make a final decision based on the analysis of recent consultations, an RA is not likely to meaningfully inform or influence this process.

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 90309): Regional Assessment of the Pickering Lands and Contiguous Areas.

Yours truly,

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