Potential Regional Assessment in the Salish Sea

Attachment 2022-09-07 submission from British Columbia Environmental Assessment Office

• Potential Regional Assessment in the Salish Sea
• Author: Administrator on behalf of British Columbia Environmental Assessment Office
• Reference number: 15
• Submitted: 2022-09-07
• Please see the attached submission.
• Attachment included
• Environmental Assessment Office Office of the Associate Deputy Minister Mailing Address: PO Box 9426 Stn Prov Govt Victoria BC V8W 9V1 Location: 2nd Fl – 836 Yates St Victoria BC V8W 1L8 File: ENVA-30010-02/EAR SPECIAL Reference: 391816 September 7, 2022 SENT VIA EMAIL Debra Myles Senior Advisor, Strategic and Regional Assessments Impact Assessment Agency of Canada 22 Floor, Pace Bell 160 Elgin Street Ottawa, ON K1A 0H3 Debra.Myles@iaac-aeic.gc.ca Attention: Debra Myles, Senior Advisor, Strategic and Regional Assessments RE: Request by Salish Sea Indigenous Guardians Association (SSIGA) for a Regional Assessment (RA) in the Salish Sea Dear Debra, Thank you for the opportunity to respond to the request made to the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) by SSIGA for an RA on the Salish Sea under the Impact Assessment Act. The B.C. Environmental Assessment Office (EAO) supports the concept of an RA and believes that an RA could be beneficial in informing environmental assessments of proposed projects that may have impacts on the Salish Sea. However, the EAO is of the view that there is a need to more fully engage with other provincial Ministries in the natural resources sector who have regulatory responsibilities connected to the Salish Sea, as well as with federal agencies to develop a full understanding of related federal initiatives and how those intersect with provincial initiatives. The EAO is of the view that this outstanding work would need to be addressed before a decision could be made about proceeding with an RA. …2 - 2 - Environmental Assessment Office Office of the Associate Deputy Minister ...

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Attachment 2022-08-04 correspondence from National Audubon Society

• Potential Regional Assessment in the Salish Sea
• Author: Administrator on behalf of National Audubon Society
• Reference number: 13
• Submitted: 2022-08-04
• Please see the attached submission.
• Attachment included
• Debra Myles Impact Assessment Agency of Canada / Government of Canada Senior Advisor / Strategic and Regional Assessment RegionalAssessmentRequest-DemandeEvaluationRegionale@iaac-aeic.gc.ca August 4, 2022 Re: Phased Regional Impact Assessment for Fraser River Estuary and Salish Sea The Government of Canada describes Regional Impact Assessments as “…studies conducted in areas of existing projects or anticipated development to inform planning and management of cumulative effects and inform project impact assessments. Regional assessments allow the Government of Canada to go beyond project-focused impact assessments to understand the regional context and provide more comprehensive analyses to help inform future impact assessment decisions.” The Salish Sea Indigenous Guardians Association has formally requested Canada undertake a Regional Impact Assessment including both the Fraser River estuary and Salish Sea. We, the National Audubon Society are writing in support of the request from the Salish Sea Indigenous Guardians Association for a phased Regional Impact Assessment of the Fraser River Estuary and Salish Sea region. The Fraser River estuary is a region of global significance for the conservation of migratory birds and has received numerous global designations reflecting the significance of the resource. The National Audubon Society, along with our conservation partners have identified the Fraser River Estuary as a key site within our Important Bird Areas Program and the Pacific Americas Shorebird Conservation Strategy. Because of the importance of the Fraser River Estuary to a suite of Pacific shorebird species, we have designated the Fraser River Estuary as hemispherically ...

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Attachment 2022-08-04 correspondence from Malahat Nation

• Potential Regional Assessment in the Salish Sea
• Author: Administrator on behalf of Malahat Nation
• Reference number: 8
• Submitted: 2022-08-04
• Please see the attached submission.
• Attachment included
• August 4th 2022 Malahat Referral No: R22073 Debra Myles Impact Assessment Agency of Canada Via email: RegionalAssessmentRequest-DemandeEvaluationRegionale@iaac-aeic.gc.ca RE: Malahat Nation Response to Request for a Regional Assessment in the Salish Sea Dear Debra, Thank you for your consultation request dated July 11th, regarding the regional assessment of the Salish Sea, which is located in Malahat Nation’s traditional territory. At this time and with the information we have been provided, Malahat Nation does not object to the proposed regional assessment. We do continue to require continued disclosure on an ongoing basis regarding this assessment. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Kate Richey Referrals Coordinator Malahat Nation <original signed by>

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Attachment 2022-08-04 correspondence from Birds Canada

• Potential Regional Assessment in the Salish Sea
• Author: Administrator on behalf of Birds Canada
• Reference number: 14
• Submitted: 2022-08-04
• Please see the attached submission.
• Attachment included
• P.O. Box 160, 115 Front Road Port Rowan, Ontario Canada N0E 1M0 BIRDSCANADA.ORG Debra Myles Impact Assessment Agency of Canada / Government of Canada Senior Advisor / Strategic and Regional Assessment RegionalAssessmentRequest-DemandeEvaluationRegionale@iaac-aeic.gc.ca And Marian Ngo, Executive Director Salish Sea Indigenous Guardians Association (SSIGA) 4116 Georgia Street Burnaby, BC V5C 2T4 August 4 2022 Re: Birds Canada Support for a Phased Indigenous Led Regional Assessment for Fraser River Estuary and Salish Sea Birds Canada is, in principal, supportive of the request from the Salish Sea Indigenous Guardians Association for a phased, Regional Assessment of the Salish Sea so long as the Terms of Reference clearly articulate a commitment to Indigenous leadership in the process. Twenty-two years of community-based monitoring of coastal birds indicates declining populations of fish eating and bottom feeding birds in the Salish Sea. Birds Canada believes this is an indication of more systemic declines in the ecological condition of the Salish Sea. The Salish Sea Indigenous Guardians Association has suggested an initial focus on traditional food sources and Birds Canada is supportive of this focus as it both addresses past, current and future impacts on Coast Salish rights but also links to a more holistic understanding of ecological condition of the Salish Sea. A multi-year Coast Salish led Regional Assessment has the potential to shift the current project-by-project approach to one able to support longer-term stewardship of this globally significant and locally treasured ecosystem. Birds Canada is aware of the complexity behind determining whether or not ...

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Attachment 2022-08-03 correspondence from Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network

• Potential Regional Assessment in the Salish Sea
• Author: Administrator on behalf of Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network
• Reference number: 11
• Submitted: 2022-08-03
• Please see the attached submission. 
• Attachment included
• Executive Office, Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network P.O. Box 1770, Manomet, MA 02345, United States 3 August 2022 Debra Myles Impact Assessment Agency of Canada / Government of Canada Senior Advisor / Strategic and Regional Assessment RegionalAssessmentRequest-DemandeEvaluationRegionale@iaac-aeic.gc.ca Re: Phased Regional Impact Assessment for Fraser River Estuary and Salish Sea Dear Debra Myles, I’m writing on behalf of the Executive Office of the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network (WHSRN) in support of the request from the Salish Sea Indigenous Guardians Association for a phased Regional Impact Assessment of the Fraser River Estuary and Salish Sea region. The Fraser River estuary is a location of global significance for the conservation of migratory birds and has received numerous global designations reflecting the significance of the site. The Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network (WHSRN) is a site-based shorebird conservation initiative whose mission is to conserve shorebirds and their habitats through a network of key sites across the Americas. The network is comprised of hundreds of partners working at 114 sites in 18 countries to conserve and manage over 15 million hectares of critical habitats for shorebirds. The Fraser River Estuary is a WHSRN site of Hemispheric Importance (the highest level of significance for shorebird conservation), designated in 2005. The Government of Canada describes Regional Impact Assessments as “…studies conducted in areas of existing projects or anticipated development to inform planning and management of cumulative effects and inform project impact assessments. ...

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Attachment 2022-08-02 correspondence from Tsawwassen First Nation

• Potential Regional Assessment in the Salish Sea
• Author: Administrator on behalf of Tsawwassen First Nation
• Reference number: 17
• Submitted: 2022-08-02
• Please see the attached submission.
• Attachment included
• #620730v2 August 2, 2022 VIA E-MAIL Impact Assessment Agency of Canada RegionalAssessmentRequest-DemandeEvaluationRegionale@iaac-aeic.gc.ca Re: Salish Sea Indigenous Guardians Association (SSIGA) Request for Regional Assessment of the Salish Sea I write on behalf of Tsawwassen First Nation (“Tsawwassen”) to provide comments on the Salish Sea Indigenous Guardians Association (“SSIGA”) request for a Regional Assessment of the Salish Sea under sections 92 and 93 of the Impact Assessment Act, SC 2019, c 28 (“the Act”). Tsawwassen agrees that cumulative effects in the Salish Sea are a serious problem Tsawwassen Territory, as set out in the Tsawwassen First Nation Final Agreement (“Treaty”), includes lands and waters in the the Salish Sea (in particular Roberts Bank), the Fraser River, the Fraser River Estuary, Pitt Lake, the Pitt River, the Serpentine River, the Nicomekl River, Boundary Bay and the Gulf Islands. This area includes the Metro Vancouver region, one of the most developed and heavily used areas in Canada, with much of that development involving infrastructure and activities in and around the waters of the Salish Sea and Fraser River. Because of this level of development, Tsawwassen Members are greatly impacted by cumulative effects including, but not limited to, the decline of salmon, deterioration of marshes and eelgrass beds, proliferation of invasive species, loss of foreshore access, noise, and impacts on air quality. Put simply, the cumulative effects of development in Tsawwassen Territory (including the Salish Sea) seriously affect the survival of the Tsawwassen way of life for seven generations and beyond. This problem cannot be overlooked or ignored. ...

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Attachment 2022-07-30 submission from Fisheries and Oceans Canada

• Potential Regional Assessment in the Salish Sea
• Author: Administrator on behalf of Fisheries and Oceans Canada
• Reference number: 24
• Submitted: 2022-07-30
• Please see the attached submission.
• Attachment included
• From: Carter, David <David.Carter@dfo-mpo.gc.ca> Sent: July 30, 2022 12:34 AM To: Myles,Debra (IAAC/AEIC) Cc: Richardson, Tessa Subject: RE: Request for a regional assessment in the Salish Sea Hi Debra, DFO has the following suggestion for your consideration. Issue Cumulative effects to ecosystems and to the rights of Indigenous peoples is a significant concern raised during impact assessments and regulatory reviews of projects in the Salish Sea. During impact assessments and regulatory reviews, conditions can be placed on the project proponent in order to lessen the contribution of the project to cumulative effects. However, the broader issue of addressing existing cumulative effects and residual project contributions (following mitigation) to cumulative effects falls to federal and provincial governments. In response to concerns previously identified regarding cumulative effects in the Salish Sea, the Government of Canada is advancing knowledge to help assess and manage these cumulative effects. However, no overarching cumulative effects management strategy exists to bring the work of these programs together to share information, and to coordinate and prioritize goals and actions. If such a strategy existed, it could be used to inform actions that both proponents and Government could take to respond to cumulative effects issues during environmental assessments and regulatory reviews. Details regarding relevant DFO programs have been shared with the Agency in the June 15, 2022 DFO updates to the Draft RBT2 Whole of Government Response to the Review Panel recommendations, and include:  Whales Initiative  Coastal Environmental Baseline Program  Salish Sea Initiative  The Southern BC Marine ...

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Attachment 2022-07-29 correspondence from Maa-nulth First Nations

• Potential Regional Assessment in the Salish Sea
• Author: Administrator on behalf of Maa-nulth First Nations
• Reference number: 12
• Submitted: 2022-07-29
• Please see the attached submission.
• Attachment included
• Huu-ay-aht First Nations ׀ Ka:'yu:k't'h'/Che:k'tles7et'h' First Nations Toquaht Nation ׀ Uchucklesaht Tribe ׀ Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ Government THE FIRST NATIONS OF MAA-NULTH TREATY SOCIETY 5091 Tsuma-as Drive Port Alberni V9Y 8X9 Phone: (250) 724-1802 ♦ Fax: (250) 724-1852 Website: www.maanulth.ca July 29, 2022 Impact Assessment Agency of Canada Attention: Debra Myles, Senior Advisor Via: Email: RegionalAssessmentRequest-DemandeEvaluationRegionale@iaac-aeic.gc.ca Dear Ms. Myles: Re: Salish Sea Indigenous Guardian Association Proposed Regional Assessment Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Salish Sea Indigenous Guardian Association’s (SSIGA’s) proposal that a regional assessment be conducted in the Salish Sea, received by the Impact Assessment Agency (Agency) on June 21, 2022. We write in response to that proposal on behalf of the five Maa-nulth First Nations (Maa-nulth):  Huu-ay-aht First Nations,  Ka:’yu:’k’t’h’/Che:k’tles7et’h’ First Nations,  Toquaht Nation,  Uchucklesaht Tribe, and  Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ Government. Maa-nulth have previously indicated support for a regional assessment in the Pacific region, including in our submissions regarding modernization of the federal and provincial impact assessment Acts and through our participation in the federal Cumulative Effects of Marine Shipping (CEMS) Initiative. The Review Panel in the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 (RBT2) impact assessment also recommended a regional assessment in the Salish Sea, and Maa-nulth supported that recommendation. Unlike project impact assessments, which are reactive to a proposed project, a regional assessment would gather baseline data for all ...

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Attachment 2022-07-27 correspondence from BC Nature

• Potential Regional Assessment in the Salish Sea
• Author: Administrator on behalf of BC Nature
• Reference number: 6
• Submitted: 2022-07-27
• Please see the attached submission.
• Attachment included
• To Know Nature and Keep it Worth Knowing BC Nature – 1620 Mt. Seymour Road, North Vancouver, BC V7G 2R9 Tel (604) 985-3057 ~ Fax (604) 985-3059 email: manager@bcnature.ca - Web site – www.bcnature.ca July 27, 2022 To: Via Email: The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada Steven.Guilbeault@parl.gc.ca The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources jonathan.wilkinson@parl.gc.ca Mr. T. Hubbard, President, Impact Assessment Agency Canada Re: BC Nature’s Support for The Salish Sea Indigenous Guardians Association’s request for a Regional Assessment of the Salish Sea BC Nature, a federation of 56 Naturalist clubs with 6000 members throughout BC, supports The Salish Sea Indigenous Guardians Association (SSIGA) request for a Regional Assessment (RA) of the Salish Sea under Sections 92 and 93 of Canada’s Impact Assessment Act (IAA), Reference #83471. To manage the Salish Sea sustainably, BC Nature believes it is essential to better understand the Salish Sea ecosystem and its diverse and important connections, including those to the history, cultures, and livelihoods of the peoples who have lived here for thousands of years. The Salish Sea wetlands and tributaries were and remain essential to the ways of life and health of the Indigenous communities along and well beyond its shorelines. The proposed assessment needs to not only deepen its understanding of these connections, but also consider the fundamental ecosystem changes of past, present, and future industrial and port developments. A full cumulative effects assessment for the entire area, including relevant or connected ...

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Attachment 2022-07-25 submission from Environment and Climate Change Canada

• Potential Regional Assessment in the Salish Sea
• Author: Administrator on behalf of Environment and Climate Change Canada
• Reference number: 5
• Submitted: 2022-07-25
• Please see the attached submission.
• Attachment included
• 1 UNCLASSIFIED - NON CLASSIFIÉ Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) Comments on the Request for a Regional Assessment for the Salish Sea – July 22, 2022 Introduction Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) is a science-based department that has specialist or expert information in the areas of air quality, greenhouse gas emissions and climate change; water quality and quantity; wildlife, species at risk, and habitat; environmental emergencies; and climate and meteorology. ECCC administers or has legislative responsibility for various Acts and regulations including the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA, 1999), including Disposal at Sea permits, subsection 36(3) of the Fisheries Act, the Migratory Birds Convention Act (MBCA), and the Species at Risk Act (SARA). ECCC received a request from the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) for information in relation to a request for a regional assessment in the Salish Sea, requested by the Salish Sea Indigenous Guardians Association (SSIGA) under the Impact Assessment Act (IAA). IAAC requested information to inform their analysis for a recommendation to the Minister on whether or not to proceed with a regional assessment. ECCC’s response focuses on existing or planned initiatives or programs that inform an understanding of regional cumulative effects. These program areas have common elements including regional focus, a data generation and/or analysis component, and other contributions to the understanding of cumulative effects. 1. ECCC Response Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) is engaged in initiatives that are either underway or under development in the Fraser River estuary and ...

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Attachment 2022-07-22 submission from Natural Resources Canada

• Potential Regional Assessment in the Salish Sea
• Author: Administrator on behalf of Natural Resources Canada
• Reference number: 9
• Submitted: 2022-07-22
• Please see the attached submission. 
• Attachment included
• July 22, 2022 Debra Myles Senior Advisor / Strategic and Regional Assessment Manager / Regional Assessment in the Ring of Fire Area Impact Assessment Agency of Canada debra.myles@canada.ca Subject: Input on Request for a Regional Assessment in the Salish Sea Thank you for meeting with Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) on Tuesday, July 5, 2022. In this letter we are responding to the questions about the need/rationale for a Regional Assessment (RA) in the Salish Sea from the presentation the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) provided at that meeting. NRCan is committed to improving the quality of life of Canadians by ensuring the country’s abundant natural resources are developed sustainably, competitively, and inclusively. Through its broad mandate, relevant expertise at NRCan includes supporting information and knowledge related to coastal erosion, coastal flooding, oil spill behaviour, seismic hazards, and sediment transport modelling. Attached is an annex with NRCan’s detailed response to questions from the “Regional Assessment Request: Salish Sea, Federal Authority Briefing”. In general, this annex provides additional information that could inform your recommendation to the Minister on whether to conduct a regional assessment in the Salish Sea. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at Peter.Unger@nrcan- rncan.gc.ca. Sincerely, Peter Unger A/Director, Impact Assessment Division Office of the Chief Scientist Enclosure: Annex 1 – NRCan’s Input on Request for a Regional Assessment in the Salish Sea Annex 2 – References <original signed ...

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Attachment 2022-07-22 submission from Health Canada

• Potential Regional Assessment in the Salish Sea
• Author: Administrator on behalf of Health Canada
• Reference number: 19
• Submitted: 2022-07-22
• Please see the attached submission.
• Attachment included
• TO: Debra Myles, Senior Advisor, Impact Assessment Agency of Canada FROM: Impact Assessment Team, Health Canada DATE: July 22, 2022 SUBJECT: Proposed Salish Sea Regional Assessment: Health Canada Input __________________________________________________________________________________ Thank you for your email dated July 7, 2022, requesting Federal Authority input on the proposed Salish Sea Regional Assessment (RA) on the south-west coast of British Columbia (BC). It is Health Canada’s understanding that the Salish Sea Indigenous Guardians Association (SSIGA) are requesting that the proposed RA would ultimately enable sustainable regional development, which could be monitored and adjusted according to changing environmental conditions. The initial focus of the RA would be on impacts to traditional food sources, starting with water quality effects and then moving on to existing infrastructure, marine traffic, and ongoing and foreseeable projects. The RA scope is the entirety of the Salish Sea (both Canada and the US), and includes its inner bodies of water along with the traditional fishing territories of Treaty Nations. Health Canada’s knowledge of the Salish Sea is in large part based on information provided by participants during various federal environmental or impact assessment (EA or IA) processes. Food quality and availability have come up as areas of concern for Indigenous groups during the EAs for several proposed projects in the Salish Sea. In addition, when assessing human health, Indigenous peoples in Canada can be particularly vulnerable to changes in environmental conditions and to the impacts of climate change1, and there are many Indigenous communities with strong ...

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Attachment 2022-07-22 submission from Transport Canada

• Potential Regional Assessment in the Salish Sea
• Author: Administrator on behalf of Transport Canada
• Reference number: 22
• Submitted: 2022-07-22
• Please see the attached submission.
• Attachment included
• .../2 Pacific Region Environmental Services 620 – 800 Burrard Street Vancouver, BC V6Z 2J8 RDIMS: 18765474 July 22, 2022 Impact Assessment Agency of Canada 22nd Floor, Place Bell 160 Elgin Street Ottawa ON K1A 0H3 Attention: Debra Myles Dear Ms. Myles: RE: Request for a Regional Assessment in the Salish Sea Thank you for the notification of a request for a regional assessment (RA) from the Salish Sea Indigenous Guardians Association (SSIGA) for the Salish Sea region. Transport Canada (TC) recognizes the objectives behind the SSIGA’s request and the desire for regional consideration of key issues within the Salish Sea. TC can provide support and expertise to the Impact Assessment Agency (the Agency) in their analysis. The Agency’s preliminary meeting with federal authorities (FAs) directed FAs to focus on five key considerations, including whether an existing or planned initiative would adequately address the issues raised in the request. TC's preliminary input is largely in response to this consideration as there are a number of initiatives underway and in development in which TC is actively involved that may address, in whole or part, the SSIGA’s objectives of building baselines and establishing cumulative data on the health and well-being of the Salish Sea. Taking stock of existing initiatives in the region could be useful in informing the need for, and potential development of, any future regional initiatives. It will also assist in identifying areas or mechanisms through which the SSIGA could participate in relevant government initiatives or programming and/or how these initiatives or programs ...

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Attachment 2022-07-20 submission from Parks Canada

• Potential Regional Assessment in the Salish Sea
• Author: Administrator on behalf of Parks Canada
• Reference number: 16
• Submitted: 2022-07-20
• Please see the attached submission.
• Attachment included
• 1 From: Leah de Montreuil <leah.demontreuil@pc.gc.ca> Sent: July 20, 2022 4:46 PM To: Myles,Debra (IAAC/AEIC) Cc: Katherine Cumming; Lee Montgomery Subject: Parks Canada's Response to the request for a RA in the Salish Sea Hi Debra, Thank you for the opportunity to provide feedback to inform IAAC’s recommendation to the Minister on whether or not to conduct a regional assessment in the Salish Sea. Background Information: Southern Strait of Georgia NMCAR Proposal (SSG NMCAR) In 2011, Canada and British Columbia announced a proposed 1400-square-kilometre boundary for a national marine conservation area reserve in the southern Strait of Georgia. Parks Canada, Indigenous Partners and BC are currently working on completing a feasibility assessment for the proposed SSG NMCAR. Under a Canada-BC 2011 Statement of Intent that confirmed a boundary for consultation, work since 2016 has focused on engaging the First Nations potentially impacted by the proposal and information sharing with non-FN stakeholders (NGO’s, Municipal Governments, shipping, commercial fishing, local communities, etc.). The leadership of eleven First Nations have formed the Indigenous Management Board to collaborate in their relationship with Parks Canada. There are seven other First Nations with territories adjacent to the proposed SSG NMCAR including Tsawwassen First Nation which has a treaty right to harvest within the proposed boundary. Considerations: The proposed SSG NMCAR is within the area proposed for the regional assessment. As noted above the establishment process involves a partnership with Indigenous nations in the region. First Nations directly involved in the feasibility assessment process for the proposed SSG ...

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Attachment 2022-07-19 submission from Crown-Indigenous Relations and Indigenous Affairs Canada

• Potential Regional Assessment in the Salish Sea
• Author: Administrator on behalf of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Indigenous Affairs Canada
• Reference number: 21
• Submitted: 2022-07-19
• Please see the attached submission.
• Attachment included
• 1 From: Neary, James <james.neary@rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca> Sent: July 19, 2022 4:49 PM To: Myles,Debra (IAAC/AEIC) Cc: Faubert, Terry; Rowan, Michael; Chartier, Marc Subject: RE: Request for a regional assessment in the Salish Sea Dear Ms. Myles Thank you for providing an opportunity for CIRNAC and other Federal Authorities to comment on the request by the Salish Sea Indigenous Guardian Association for a Regional Assessment of the Salish Sea. You have requested, “advice or information to inform our recommendation to the Minister on whether or not to conduct a regional assessment in the Salish Sea” . In response to your request, we can provide an overview of the types of information CIRNAC can provide in support of a Regional Assessment and provide some information that may help inform the development of your recommendation to the Minister of ECCC. Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC) has the following types of expert information or knowledge that may benefit project specific, regional or strategic assessments: a) Reconciliation: CIRNAC has expertise on the implementation of the 10 Principles respecting the Government of Canada's relationship with Indigenous peoples and the Statement of Principles on the Federal Approach to Modern Treaty Implementation through relationship building, consultation, and engagement. b) Section 35 Aboriginal and Treaty Rights: recognized and affirmed by Section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982 and captures historic and modern treaties, implementation of the spirit and intent of treaties, self-government, recognition of Indigenous rights and self-determination and other related agreements:  CIRNAC provides guidance and advice to federal ...

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Attachment 2022-07-12 correspondence from Against Port Expansion Community Group

• Potential Regional Assessment in the Salish Sea
• Author: Administrator on behalf of Against Port Expansion Community Group
• Reference number: 7
• Submitted: 2022-07-12
• Please see the attached submission.
• Attachment included
• 1 From: Roger Emsley Sent: July 12, 2022 8:49 PM To: Regional Assessment Request / Demande Evaluation Regionale (IAAC/AEIC) Cc: Ministre / Minister (EC); Hubbard,Terence (IAAC/AEIC) Subject: Regional Assessment in the Salish Sea Ref. 83741 Attention: The Honourable Steven Guilbeault Minister Environment and Climate Change Canada Mr. T. Hubbard, President Impact Assessment Agency Canada July 12 2022. I refer to the email from Debra Myles of July 11 in which she refers to The Salish Sea Indigenous Guardians Association (SSIGA) request for a Regional Assessment (RA) of the Salish Sea under Sections 92 and 93 of the Impact Assessment Act (IAA). This email is to support the request for such an assessment. The SSIGA makes reference in their letter to a number of large-scale industrial developments in the Fraser River and Estuary. Whilst these and other projects all claim to have done environmental assessments, the reality is that there has never been a full cumulative effects assessment for the Salish Sea. With what is known already today it is clear the Fraser Estuary - recognized by the Salish Sea Institute as the largest and most significant estuary in the Salish Sea - is at a tipping point. Roberts Bank at the mouth of the estuary supports communities of wildlife all through British Columbia and throughout the Salish Sea. It is one of - if not the most - important stopover site on the Pacific Flyway. Yet it is where the Port of Vancouver wants to build a massive man-made island so as to incorporate a second container terminal. Add to that the proposed Deltaport Berth Four expansion, the Airport Fuel Storage terminal, the planned Tilbury Fortis LNG terminal and marine jetty, the ...

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Attachment 2022-05-15 correspondence from Raincoast Conservation Foundation

• Potential Regional Assessment in the Salish Sea
• Author: Administrator on behalf of Raincoast Conservation Foundation
• Reference number: 18
• Submitted: 2022-05-15
• Please see the attached submission.
• Attachment included
• May 15, 2022 The Hon. Steven Guilbeault Minister of Environment and Climate Change 200 Sacré-Coeur Blvd Gatineau, QC Sent via e-mail ec.ministre-minister.ec@canada.ca Re: Cumulative effects assessment in the Salish Sea Dear Minister, We are writing to express our support for the letter you received from the Salish Sea Indigenous Guardians Association (SSIGA) requesting that a regional assessment of cumulative effects be undertaken prior to any further consideration of Terminal 2 (RBT2) or GTC’s Deltaport 4 (DP4) expansions at Roberts Bank in the Fraser River estuary. We also echo SSIGA’s call for clarity on evaluation of these two competing proposals. Each of these projects are expected to have population level effects on federally listed (threatened and endangered) wildlife species that rely on habitats within the Fraser River Estuary and the Salish Sea. As our legal counsel at Ecojustice have written previously (Jan 7, 2022), a regional impact assessment of marine shipping impacts on the west coast should be an obvious undertaking prior to further consideration of terminal expansions. Given the number of projects proposed for the area, their environmental significance, and the extensive impacts that marine habitats in this area already experience from commercial and other human activities, such a prior assessment would be appropriate. A regional assessment would assist in addressing the cumulative effects of marine shipping. This issue continues to surface in reviews of major projects with marine shipping aspects, such as RBT2 and the Trans Mountain Expansion Project. The review panel assessing RBT2 noted that “underwater noise levels in the Salish Sea area already ...

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Attachment 2022-04-21 Agency response to April 06 2022 correspondence from SSIGA

• Potential Regional Assessment in the Salish Sea
• Author: Administrator on behalf of Impact Assessment Agency of Canada
• Reference number: 20
• Submitted: 2022-04-21
• Please see the attached submission. 
• Attachment included
• Bonnell,Stephen (IAAC/AEIC) On Thu., Apr. 21, 2022, 10:50 a.m. Bonnell,Stephen (IAAC/AEIC), <Stephen.Bonnell@iaac-aeic.gc.ca> wrote: Dear Steven Stark, Chief Harley Chappell, and Tumia Knott; On behalf of the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada, thank you for your letter dated March 31, 2022, in which the Salish Sea Indigenous Guardians Association requested a regional assessment under the Impact Assessment Act (IAA) that would encompass both the proposed Roberts Bank Terminal 2 and Delta Port Expansion – Berth 4 projects. The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (the Agency) has conducted an initial review of your request, and would like to discuss it further with you to receive some additional information and clarification on a number of items. We would also appreciate the opportunity to provide some further details on the process for developing and submitting a regional assessment request, including the associated information required to be included in such a request, as well as the process and timelines for the Minister’s eventual decision and response. These items are detailed in the Agency’s Operational Guide: Requesting a Regional or Strategic Assessment under the Impact Assessment Act: https://www.canada.ca/en/impact-assessment-agency/services/policy-guidance/regional-strategic- assessments/requesting-regional-strategic-assessment-iaa.html. Please let me know if you and/or other representatives of the Salish Sea Indigenous Guardians Association might be available for a brief discussion with myself and other Agency officials next week, and if so, any preferred dates and times. Thank you again for your letter, and in advance for ...

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Attachment 2022-04-19 correspondence from Chief Harley Chappell Semiahmoo First Nation

• Potential Regional Assessment in the Salish Sea
• Author: Administrator on behalf of Chief Harley Chappell Semiahmoo First Nation
• Reference number: 10
• Submitted: 2022-04-19
• Please see the attached submission.
• Attachment included
• S EMIAHMOO FIRST NATION April 19, 2022 Attention: The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change House of Commons Ottawa, Ontario, Kl A 0A6 Dear Honourable Guilbeault: RE: Regional Assessment Roberts Band Terminal 2 and Delta Port 4 On behalf of Semiahmoo First Nation, a member of the Salish Sea Indigenous Guardians Association (SSIGA), an Indigenous-led non-profit focused on cumulative effects and monitoring in the Salish Sea (and its interconnected inner bodies of water), we are requesting for a Regional Assessment that includes both the RBT2 and DP4 proposed projects. The Regional Assessment must address cumulative effects by expanding the scope to includes our environmental and socio-economic priorities, culture, heritage, health, and way of life by incorporating holistic perspectives with western science. We believe this approach is the only viable option that can begin to address the ongoing concerns and lack of clarity on the impacts of the projects on Semiahmoo First Nation. The Salish Sea and its ecosystem are vital to the health, heritage, livelihood, and way of life of a multitude of First Nations. The mission of SSIGA is to ensure that the member Nations are supported with holistic data that reflects Indigenous perspectives and priorities as it pertains to development and resource policy in the Salish Sea. The work of SSIGA is intended to be a regional amalgamation of data that bridges the gap of information and is intended to complement the ongoing stewardship programs of individual First Nations and our database, planning, and monitoring programs are built jointly and will ongoing feedback from members. Regional Assessments and comparative ...

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Attachment 2022-04-14 correspondence from Chief Ken Baird Tsawwassen First Nation

• Potential Regional Assessment in the Salish Sea
• Author: Administrator on behalf of Chief Ken Baird Tsawwassen First Nation
• Reference number: 23
• Submitted: 2022-04-14
• Please see the attached submission. 
• Attachment included
• <original signed by>

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Attachment 2022-04-06 correspondence from Salish Sea Indigenous Guardians Association

• Potential Regional Assessment in the Salish Sea
• Author: Administrator on behalf of Salish Sea Indigenous Guardians Association
• Reference number: 4
• Submitted: 2022-04-06 - 1:54 PM
• Please see the attached submission.
• Attachment included
• From: Marian Ngo Sent: April 6, 2022 1:54:14 PM To: Ministre / Minister (ECCC); minister@ec.gc.ca; steven.guilbeault@eccc.gc.ca Cc: Enviroinfo (ECCC) Subject: Request for Regional Assessment and Comparative Study - DP4 and RBT2 Response requested: Yes Sensitivity: Normal Attachments: 2022.03.31 - SSIGA request for regional assessment.pdf ; Dear Minister Guilbeault, On behalf of the Salish Sea Indigenous Guardians Association (SSIGA), including our President Steven Stark, with whom you met with recently, please see attached a letter from our Board (representatives from Tsawwassen, Semiahmoo and Kwantlen First Nations). The letter provides a bit of background to our organization along with an official request for a Regional Assessment and Comparative Study between the proposed DP4 and RBT2 projects. These proposed projects have major impact implications for the Salish Sea the Traditional Territories of our member First Nations and we believe require a lot of data around holistic cumulative effects to understand. In the spirit of reconciliation, our organization would be happy to lead these studies in coordination with other interested and affected Nations and with IAAC. SSIGA is Independent and Indigenous-led and these studies fall under the resources we provide. We believe that tangible cumulative effects and clear data (that takes into account Indigenous needs and perspectives) is a precursor to "informed decision making" and a required to bridge the gaps in the shortfalls of the assessment process. Please let us know if you have any questions. Best regards, Marian Ngo, Executive Director Salish Sea Indigenous Guardians Association (SSIGA) Salish Sea Indigenous Guardians Association www.ssiga.ca ...

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