Participant Funding Program – Aboriginal Funding
Funding Review Committee's Report

Allocation of Federal Funds for the Environmental Assessment of the Quebec Lithium Spodumene Mine Project

The Participant Funding Program (PFP) is established pursuant to subsection 58(1.1) of the former Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (the former Act), which stated: "For the purposes of this Act, the Minister shall establish a participant funding program to facilitate the participation of the public in comprehensive studies, mediations and assessments by review panels." The PFP also includes Aboriginal Funding to strengthen the ability of Aboriginal groups to participate in federal or joint federal-provincial environmental assessment (EA) processes and in related consultation activities.

A Funding Review Committee (FRC) independent of the environmental assessment (EA) was established for the Quebec Lithium Spodumene Mine Project (the Project). The EA of the project is being conducted by means of a comprehensive study (CS). The FRC's purpose was to assess funding applications received under the Aboriginal Funding of the PFP for the project and to provide the President of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (the Agency) with recommendations on whether funding should be allocated and, if so, in what amount.

Under the Aboriginal Funding for this project, a total of $48,000 was made available to support Aboriginal participation in the EA and related consultation and community engagement activities, including:

  • review of and comment on the summary of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) or the EIS itself; and
  • review of and comment on the Comprehensive Study Report (CSR).

The deadline to submit an application was July 23, 2012. Two applications were received, requesting a total of $29,734.16.

On July 30, 2012, the FRC met to review the applications. The FRC members were Bruce Young, retired Director of Panel Management with the Agency, who acted as the Committee Chairperson; and Guy Riverin, retired Environmental Assessment Specialist, Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission.

Background

Quebec Lithium Inc. (the proponent) is proposing to develop an open pit mine to an estimated depth of 150 m to extract spodumene (a lithium mineral) at a rate of 3,800 tonnes per day. The ore will be processed to produce approximately 20,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate concentrate per year. The Quebec Lithium mining property is located about 60 km north of Val-d'Or, 38 km southeast of Amos and 15 km southwest of Barraute. The mine life is estimated to be 15 years.

In addition to mining and processing the ore, the proponent plans to relocate the NRJ radio communication tower and divert a 1.8-km section of the Quebec Lithium road to allow the development of the mining pit. A 25-kV power line will also have to be moved when rerouting the road. To meet the project's energy needs, the proponent will also extend a 125-kV power line located near the site.

Eligibility

Under the Aboriginal Funding of the PFP, funding may be provided to Aboriginal applicants to support their input to an EA and/or to support their engagement in consultation activities with the federal government. These activities must be linked to the EA of a proposed project through a CS, mediation or review panel.

Eligible recipients must plan to engage in Aboriginal consultation activities with the federal government that are linked to the EA of the proposed project and be able to demonstrate that they meet at least one of the following eligibility criteria:

  • have a direct, local interest in the Project, such as living or owning property in the project area;
  • have community knowledge or Aboriginal traditional knowledge relevant to the EA; or
  • have expert information relevant to the anticipated environmental effects of the Project.

All of the applicants were deemed to have met the eligibility criteria.

Under the Aboriginal Funding of the PFP, applicants can request funding for costs related to:

  • professional fees;
  • staff salaries and benefits;
  • travel expenses;
  • honoraria for Elders and Chiefs to attend meetings and functions;
  • ceremonial offerings related to receiving traditional knowledge in relation to the EA;
  • administrative and reporting costs;
  • local collection and/or distribution of information;
  • office supplies and telephone charges;
  • rental of office space and meeting rooms;
  • legal fees;
  • general media advertising and/or promotion;
  • purchase of information material, with supporting documentation; and
  • other detailed expenses.

Rationale for Allocation

In reviewing the two applications and in reaching its conclusions and recommendations the FRC took into consideration many factors, including:

  • whether Aboriginal groups could demonstrate that they plan to engage in Aboriginal consultation activities with the federal government that are linked to the EA of the proposed project;
  • the ability of the Aboriginal groups to demonstrate that they had met one or more of the eligibility criteria listed above;
  • the quality, clarity and content of the application, particularly with respect to the relationship between specific project components and the applicant's traditional lands and resources, and the applicant's proposed EA participation work plan;
  • the ability of the applicant to represent the interests of Aboriginal communities that might be impacted by the Project;
  • the eligible activities under the Aboriginal Funding of the PFP for the Project, which include reviewing and commenting on the EIS Summary or the EIS and the CSR;
  • the extent to which the proposed activities meet the requirements of the Aboriginal Funding of the PFP; and
  • the maximum funding available to the applicants.

Recommendation

The FRC recommends allocating $29,734 of the available Aboriginal Funding to support the participation of the two applicants and to divide the amount as follows:

  • $14,599 to the Conseil de la Première Nation Abitibiwinni; and
  • $15,135 to the Conseil de la Nation Anishnabe de Lac Simon.

The FRC further recommends that any funding allocation be conditional on a provision of written comments, by the applicants, to the Agency on the EIS summary or the EIS itself and the CSR.

Recommended Participant Funding Allocation
Quebec Lithium Spodumene Mine Project

Aboriginal Funding

Applicant Total allocation amount recommended
Conseil de la Première Nation Abitibiwinni $14,599
Conseil de la Nation Anishnabe de Lac Simon $15,135
TOTAL $29,734

Funding Review Committee
Quebec Lithium Spodumene Mine Project

Aboriginal Funding

______________________________________________________________________
Bruce Young, Committee Chairperson, retired Director of Panel Management with the Agency

______________________________________________________________________
Guy Riverin, retired Environmental Assessment Specialist, Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission

  • Recommended Participant Funding Allocation
  • Applicant
  • Total allocation amount recommended

Document Reference Number: 8

Date modified: