Participant Funding Program - Aboriginal Funding Envelope
Funding Review Committee's Report
Midwest Uranium Mine Project

Allocation of Phase II Funding for Participation in the Environmental Assessment Process

The Participant Funding Program (PFP) was established pursuant to subsection 58(1.1) of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (the Act), which states: For the purposes of this Act, the Minister shall establish a participant funding program to facilitate the participation of the public in comprehensive studies, mediations and assessments by review panels. The PFP also includes an Aboriginal Funding Envelope (AFE) to strengthen the ability of Aboriginal groups to participate in federal or joint federal/provincial environmental assessment (EA) processes and in related consultation activities.

A Funding Review Committee (FRC), independent from the environmental assessment of the Midwest Uranium Mine Project (the Project) being conducted by means of a comprehensive study, was established to assess the funding applications received under Phase II of the PFP-AFE for the Project and recommend funding allocations to the applicants. A total of $40,000 was made available by the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (the Agency) to enable Aboriginal applicants to participate in the EA process, specifically to enable Aboriginal groups to review the revised Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and the Comprehensive Study Report (CSR) and to support related Aboriginal consultation activities.

On March 30, 2010, the FRC met to review the applications. The FRC members were Mr. Paul Scott, retired Regional Director of the Agency's Pacific and Yukon Office, acting as Committee Chair; Mr. Larry Lechner, Past Director, Environmental Assessment Branch, Saskatchewan Environment; and Mr. Don Hovdebo, Principal Consultant.

Background

On January 29, 2009, AREVA Resources Canada (the proponent) requested that the Project be included in the Major Resource Project initiative. The EA is currently in the EIS review stage. A revised EIS was submitted by the proponent in February, 2010. To date, only one Aboriginal group, Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation, has received participant funding and that was under the Regular Funding Envelope (RFE) in October, 2007.

To date, Aboriginal involvement from other identified groups, specifically the Métis Nation – Saskatchewan and the Athabasca Denesuline First Nations, including Black Lake, Fond du Lac, and Hatchet Lake, has been limited to communication of project information through meetings and notifications by the proponent, the Province, and the federal EA team. Increased engagement of these Aboriginal groups has been identified as a requirement to facilitate Crown consultation obligations during the EA phase, as well as to enable such groups to input to the EA process.

On February 24, 2009 the Major Project Deputy Minister's Committee agreed that the Project would be included in the Major Resource Project initiative. Therefore, funds under the AFE are available to assist Aboriginal groups in their participation in the EA and Aboriginal consultation activities.

Eligibility

Under the AFE of the PFP, funding may be provided to Aboriginal groups to support their input to an EA and/or support their engagement in Aboriginal consultation activities with the federal government. These activities must be linked to the EA of a proposed project through a comprehensive study, mediation or review panel.

To be eligible for funding, applicants must demonstrate that they meet one of the following eligibility criteria:

• have a direct, local interest in the Project, such as a residence in the area or historical or cultural ties to the area likely to be affected by the Project;
• have community knowledge or Aboriginal traditional knowledge relevant to the environmental assessment; or
• have expert information relevant to the anticipated environmental effects of the Project.

The FRC concluded that all three of the Aboriginal organizations that applied for funding were eligible and have legitimate and potentially important roles to play in the EA.

Under the PFP-AFE, applicants can request funding for expenditures related to:

• Professional fees;
• Staff salaries and benefits;
• Travel expenses;
• Honoraria for Elders and Chiefs to attend meetings and functions;
• Ceremonial offerings related to receiving traditional knowledge;
• Administration and reporting;
• Other expenses related to local collection and distribution of information;
• Office supplies and telephone charges;
• Rental of office space and meeting rooms;
• Legal fees;
• General media and advertising and promotion;
• Purchase of information material; and
• Other detailed expenses, with supporting information.

Rationale for Allocation

The three applications reviewed by the FRC requested a total of $217,263.88. The FRC was advised by the PFP that the target budget available for allocation was $40,000. As the purpose of Phase II PFP-AFE funding is to support Aboriginal group review and comment on the revised Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Comprehensive Study Report (CSR), and related Aboriginal consultation activities, relevant EA process activities that would be approved for funding include:

1. Environmental Impact Statement and Comprehensive Study Report Reviews: Reviewing the revised environmental impact statement and comprehensive study report to determine the predicted effects of the Project on the applicant and evaluate the likely effectiveness of measures proposed to address adverse effects.
2. Aboriginal Consultation Activities: Preparing for and participating in Aboriginal consultation activities associated with the EA; and
3. Written Submission on the Environmental Impact Statement and Comprehensive Study Report: Compiling the information it has gathered with the funding provided in the form of a written submission to the Agency.

After reviewing the applications, the FRC noted that a number of the proposed activities were outside the scope of this Phase II funding. For this reason and in view of the limited AFE funds available, the FRC has recommended that the work plans and budgets be reduced accordingly.

Recommendation

The FRC recommends that a total of $41,055 be awarded to the three applicants.

Participant Funding Program Funding Review Committee
Aboriginal Funding Envelope – Phase II

Midwest Uranium Mine Project

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Mr. Paul Scott, Retired Regional Director of the Agency's Pacific and Yukon Office, Funding Review Committee Chair

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Mr. Larry Lechner, Past Director, Environmental Assessment Branch, Saskatchewan Environment

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Mr. Don Hovdebo, Principal Consultant

Recommended Participant Funding Awards
Aboriginal Funding Envelope – Phase II

Midwest Uranium Mine Project

Applicant	FRC's Recommended Awards
Métis Nation – Saskatchewan	$16,500
Prince Albert Grand Council (PAGC)	$18,905
Barren Lands First Nation	$ 5,650
Total	$ 41,055