Minister's Response — Sugar Creek Peat Harvesting Project

Physical Activities

Sun Gro Horticulture Canada is proposing the construction, operation, decommissioning, and abandonment of the Sugar Creek Peat Harvesting Project (the physical activities referred to as the project), located approximately 20 kilometres southeast of Fisher River Cree Nation, Manitoba. As proposed, the project would extract peat from four sub areas and include an access road, bog roads, a staging area, sedimentation ponds, and a drainage network.

Decision

The project does not warrant designation.

Reasons

Pursuant to section 9 of the Impact Assessment Act (the IAA), I, Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, considered the potential for the project to cause adverse effects within federal jurisdiction, adverse direct or incidental effects, public concerns related to these effects; as well as adverse impacts on the Aboriginal and Treaty rights of the Indigenous peoples of Canada. In forming my opinion, I took into account the analysis prepared by the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada.

I am of the opinion that the designation of the project is unwarranted for the following reasons:

  • The legislative processes that currently apply to the project and related consultations with potentially impacted Indigenous peoples provide a framework to address the potential adverse aforementioned effects and impacts, and concerns raised by Indigenous peoples and members of the public. These processes include:
    • the provincial environmental assessment and licensing process under Manitoba's The Environment Act, which can include terms and conditions to mitigate potential environmental effects for all stages of the development;
    • the provincial legislation, as applicable, such as The Endangered Species and Ecosystems Act, and The Heritage Resources Act; and
    • the federal authorizations, approvals, and reporting that may be required under the Fisheries Act; the Canadian Navigable Waters Act; the Species at Risk Act; the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994; and the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999.
  • The project must be carried out in compliance with provincial and federal legislation, including The Environment Act; The Endangered Species and Ecosystems Act; the Fisheries Act; the Canadian Navigable Waters Act; the Species at Risk Act; the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994; and the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999.

Document Reference Number: 3

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