OTTAWA, June 30, 2016 /CNW/ - Engaging Canadians is at the core of the Government of Canada's approach to major project reviews and restoring public trust in Canada's environmental and regulatory processes.
The Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion Project (TMX) Ministerial Panel has been tasked by the Minister of Natural Resources, the Honourable Jim Carr, with engaging local communities and Indigenous peoples and with reviewing feedback about the proposed Trans Mountain Expansion Project.
Today, the ministerial panel announced how it plans to gather Canadians' views on the project. Local communities, Indigenous peoples and other impacted stakeholders will have three ways of engaging:
- In-person roundtable discussions and town-hall meetings with panel members will be held throughout July and August in Calgary, Edmonton, Jasper, Kamloops, Chilliwack, Abbotsford, Langley, Burnaby, Vancouver and Victoria.
- An online questionnaire available until September 30, 2016, will allow Canadians who are unable to meet the panel in person to provide their views on the proposed pipeline.
- Canadians can provide written comments directly to the panel via email - [email protected].
The panel is composed of Ms. Kim Baird, Mr. Tony Penikett and Dr. Annette Trimbee. Once the engagement activities are completed, the panel's work will conclude in November with a report to Minister Carr, which will be made public. In addition to the panel's engagement activities, the Government of Canada is continuing to consult directly with Indigenous peoples.
The Government of Canada's final decision on the project is expected on or before December 19, 2016.
The Government of Canada continues to deliver on its commitment to review and restore confidence in Canada's environmental and regulatory processes. On June 20, the Government launched a comprehensive review of these processes, with consultation at its core. Canadians are invited to learn more and share their views at Canada.ca/environmentalreviews.
Quotes
"We look forward to hearing from Canadians and communities along the proposed TMX pipeline and shipping route. We will carefully review and consider all input received to report back to Minister Carr this November on what we have heard."
Kim Baird, Tony Penikett and Annette Trimbee
Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion Project Ministerial Panel Members
"Kim, Tony and Annette bring a wealth of experience in discussing important issues with Canadians and Indigenous peoples. I encourage communities, Indigenous groups and citizens to engage the panel and let their views be known, so the Government can take their interests and needs into account when it makes the final decision on the Trans Mountain Expansion Project."
Jim Carr
Canada's Minister of Natural Resources
Associated Links:
Ministerial Panel web site - http://mpmo.gc.ca/measures/270
Online Questionnaire - http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/questionnaire/18721
Panel Member Biographies - http://mpmo.gc.ca/measures/264
NEB Project website - http://www.neb-one.gc.ca/pplctnflng/mjrpp/trnsmntnxpnsn/index-eng.html
Major Project's Management Office Project website - http://mpmo.gc.ca/measures/256
Follow us on Twitter: @NRCan (http://twitter.com/nrcan)
NRCan's news releases and backgrounders are available at www.news.gc.ca.
SOURCE Natural Resources Canada
Alexandre Deslongchamps, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Natural Resources, 343-292-6837; Media Relations, Natural Resources Canada, Ottawa, 343-292-6100
Share this article