ID: 2214
Presenting Author: Nina Barton
Session: 552 - Accelerating with Integrity: Strengthening Social Impact Assessment in the face of urgency and misinformation
Status: pending
In the context of reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples, we explore various methods to improve IA processes and inform decision making.
It has been six years since the updated Impact Assessment Act (2019) was passed in Canada. The new legislation supports meaningful participation for Indigenous Peoples in the IA process and inclusion of Indigenous Knowledge and perspectives throughout the assessment, with the goal of increasing transparency and trust in decision-making. The legislation supports Indigenous-Led Assessments (ILA), and Indigenous communities have applied a wide range of innovative tools for ILAs related to projects proposed in their territories. Beyond progress on ILAs, First Nations are directly addressing economic disparity through partnerships and equity positions in major projects, including mines, LNG facilities, and renewable energy projects. At the same time, the socio-political landscape around project approvals in Canada has shifted towards economic necessity. The domestic response to external trade pressures has included enabling faster project approvals and allowing IA exemptions for some types of projects. The shift towards regulatory streamlining may be at odds with the legislative requirements to advance reconciliation. In the context of these socio-economic and political pressures, we explore various methods to improve IA processes and inform decision making, including early engagement, integrating Indigenous indicators into baseline studies and monitoring, project design changes that reduce impacts on Indigenous rights, and proactive regulatory alignment with Indigenous-led processes.
Nina Barton has over 20 years of experience in social and environmental impact assessment and research. Her passion is to help improve well-being for people and communities.
Coauthor 1: Hereward Longley