Public Participation Plan
Value Chain Solutions - Heartland Complex Expansion Project
Document Reference Number: 53
June 25, 2021
1. Introduction
Public participation is an essential part of an open, informed and meaningful impact assessment. The Government of Canada is committed to providing the public with the opportunity to participate meaningfully in the process and to provide the public with the information needed to participate in an informed way.
On March 15, 2021, the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (the Agency) determined that an impact assessment is required for the Value Chain Solutions - Heartland Complex Expansion Project (the Project), pursuant to Section 16 of Canada's Impact Assessment Act.
The Public Participation Plan (the Plan), developed by the Agency, takes into account the context of the COVID19 pandemic, to set out the best opportunities for public participation during the impact assessment process. It is intended to be flexible and does not preclude the Agency from making changes to the approaches described in this Plan in order to accommodate changes that may occur during the pandemic or the impact assessment. If this is the case, the Agency will inform the public and stakeholders.
For additional information about the implementation of meaningful public participation, please refer to the Policy Context for Public Participation in Impact Assessment and Guidance for Public Participation in Impact Assessments. A distinct and separate Indigenous Engagement and Partnership Plan is also available, outlining Indigenous engagement opportunities and approaches.
2. Description of the Proposed Project
Value Chain Solutions Inc. (the Proponent) is proposing the Project to expand its approved Heartland bitumen upgrader and refinery, located in Alberta's Industrial Heartland, about 18 kilometres northeast of Fort Saskatchewan. The expansion would increase the facility's input capacity from 29,890 m3 of diluted bitumen per day to 119,240 m3 per day. The Project is designed to upgrade and refine diluted oil sands bitumen to produce a variety of products. The Project would include activities such as construction of processing units and associated infrastructure to enable upgrading and refining, and the expansion of a petroleum storage facility and railway facilities.
3. Objectives of the Public Participation Plan
The Public Participation Plan outlines the various ways a participant may provide input and engage in the process, including for those most likely affected by the Project. The following objectives for public participation are proposed:
- Public participation is meaningful. This means that members of the public who want to take part in the impact assessment:
- have the opportunity to do so,
- have the information they need, and
- have the capacity to participate in an informed manner.
- The public is engaged early and often, particularly at each key stage of the impact assessment process.
- The public is involved in the development or revision of key documents, such as this plan, the Tailored Impact Statement Guidelines, the proponent's Impact Statement, the potential conditions, and draft amendments to the Decision Statement.
- Participation opportunities are designed to take into account diverse needs and interests of the public. Opportunities include but are not limited to: public comment periods, potential public hearing, and in-person or virtual information sessions or consultation events at key phases of the process.
- Public views heard throughout the process are tracked and inform decision making.
4. Identification of stakeholders
The following is a list of communities, associations and other stakeholders that have indicated an interest in participating in the impact assessment of this project:
- Fort Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce
- Strathcona County
5. Public participation tools
In order to ensure meaningful public participation during the impact assessment process, the following communication and participation tools will be used:
- public notices posted on the Public Registry, published in newspapers and broadcast on the radio;
- social media updates (e.g. the Agency's Twitter Feed);
- interactive community and information sessions (in-person or virtual presentations, with questions and answers);
- printed copies of key documents held in viewing centres, if requested;
- training on the impact assessment process and how to participate, available by e-learning and on demand (on demand);
- public comment periods to gather participants' input on key documents; and
- other tools based on input from the public input during the comment period on this final Public Participation Plan, as well as during the impact assessment process.
Participation opportunities and associated tools are explained in more detail in Table 1 below.
6. Activities and public participation approach
The following table provides a description of the main phases in the impact assessment process, and an outline of engagement opportunities in each phase, including events led by the Agency. The table describes the objectives of each phase and the anticipated engagement activities that will be used.
In the event that the impact assessment is referred to a review panel, the objectives of the Public Participation Plan will be incorporated into the review panel's Terms of Reference, and the review panel will select engagement activities that align with the review panel's Rules of Procedure and protect the review panel against any real or perceived conflict of interest.
Objectives of the Phase |
Expected Activities |
Public Participation Tool |
Timelines |
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Phase I: Planning |
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Phase 2: Impact Statement |
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Phase 3: Impact Assessment |
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Phase 4: Decision Making |
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Phase 5: Post Decision |
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7. Participant Funding
Funding to support public participation is available. For information about the activities that are eligible for funding or to apply for funding please see the National Program Guidelines and application on the following page https://www.canada.ca/en/impact-assessment-agency/services/policy-guidance/participant-funding-program-national-program-guidelines.html.
Please note that while the opportunity to apply for public funding for the Planning Phase has closed, funding opportunities for subsequent phases will be advertised as they become available.
8. Contact Information
Comments and other documents received by the Agency or Review Panel will form part of the Project record and will be posted on the Canadian Impact Assessment Registry website. The Agency's Submission Policy determines what information can be shared publicly and what information should remain private. For more information on how we protect your privacy, please refer to the Agency's Privacy Notice. If you do not want your comment to be posted on the Public Registry, please contact the Agency before submitting your comment
The Agency office designated for administering the impact assessment of the Project is:
Impact Assessment Agency of Canada
Prairie and Northern Regional Office
Canada Place
9700 Jasper Avenue, Suite 1145
Edmonton, AB T5J 4C3
Tel.: 780-495-2037
Fax: 780-495-2876
Email: iaac.heartland.aeic@canada.ca