Potential Regional Assessment of a Western Energy Corridor

Attachment Tataskweyak Cree Nation Response to a Potential Regional Assessment of a Western Energy Corridor

• Potential Regional Assessment of a Western Energy Corridor
• Author: Administrator on behalf of Tataskweyak Cree Nation
• Reference number: 7
• Submitted: 2021-06-11
• Please see attached. 
• Attachment included
• June 11, 2021 BY EMAIL virginia.crawford@canada.ca Impact Assessment Agency of Canada ATTN: Virginia Crawford 160 Elgin St, 22nd Floor Ottawa, ON K1A 0H3 RE: Potential Regional Assessment of a Western Energy Corridor Dear Virginia Crawford, I am writing in response to your request, dated April 30, 2021, seeking information to inform the Minister’s decision in relation to Western Energy Corridor Inc’s (“Western Energy”) request for a regional assessment for its proposed Western Energy Corridor (“Proposed Corridor”). Tataskweyak Cree Nation (“TCN”) appreciates Western Energy’s desire to conduct a regional assessment to, among other things, better understand the potential impacts of the Proposed Corridor on the rights and interests of Indigenous peoples. At the same time, I must raise the existence of our 1992 agreement with Manitoba, Manitoba Hydro, and Canada, which created the Resource Management Area Board (“RMAB”) and recognized TCN’s authority to contribute to determining the appropriates uses of lands within our Resource Management Area (“RMA”). Given TCN’s role within its RMA and the fact the Proposed Corridor runs through both Split Lake and other parts of our RMA, we expect that TCN and our RMAB will be consulted at every step of the process, including but not limited to the creation of the terms of reference, and that appropriate resources be provided to support meaningful consultation. Thank you for this opportunity to provide a response to Western Energy’s request. I look forward to receiving an update regarding the Minister’s decision. Further, please copy all future correspondence to our legal counsel, Leah Mack, at leah@macklawcorp.ca. Ekosi, ...