PRESS CONFERENCE ANNOUNCEMENT: Report on what Manitobans expect from impact assessment to be released October 30th
[Oct 20, 2025 – Winnipeg / Treaty 1 Territory and Homeland of the Métis Nation — Manitoba Eco-Network Inc.]
Who: Manitoba Eco-Network (Heather Fast), in collaboration with the Public Interest Law Centre of Legal Aid Manitoba (Katrine Dilay) and the University of Winnipeg (Dr. Patricia Fitzpatrick)
What: Report Release – Putting People and the Planet First: What Manitobans Expect from Impact Assessment
In partnership with the University of Winnipeg and the Public Interest Law Centre of Legal Aid Manitoba, the Manitoba Eco-Network created Empowering the Community: Environmental Assessment Reform in Manitoba. This project is focused on gathering Manitoban’s insights on our current process under The Environment Act and identifying community priorities for impact assessment reform.
Funding for this project has been provided by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (892-2024-1048) and the Manitoba Law Foundation.
We will be releasing our final results on October 30th.
To read more about the project visit: https://mbeconetwork.org/what-we-do/impact-assessment/
Where: Richardson College for the Environment and Science Complex, University of Winnipeg, 599 Portage Avenue, 3rd Floor, Room 3RC045 (Institute of Urban Studies)
It is the newer building on Portage Ave with the symbols of the Periodic Table stenciled on the glass façade. Enter at the Portage and Langside door, pass the Security Desk to the elevator, up to the third floor, turn left off the elevator.
Parking: paid parking behind the building. Street parking is limited to 1hr.
The media and the general public are encouraged to attend.
When: October 30th, 2025 at 11 AM
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CONTACT:
James Beddome
Executive Director, Manitoba Eco-Network
204-995-2637
executivedirector@mbeconetwork.org
What is Impact Assessment?
Impact assessment (often called environmental assessment) is a process through which government decision-makers try to understand the possible impacts of a development project before irreversible steps are taken. It is an opportunity to “look before we leap.”
Projects – such as building new roads, mines or wind farms – have both positive and negative impacts. They may improve access to resources. They may create jobs. They may produce energy. They can also cause harm – to the environment, to people, to communities, or to economies.
An impact assessment helps us understand the different possible outcomes before they start. In doing so, it allows us to plan ways to avoid, or reduce the negative impacts – and enhance the positive outcomes. There are many different things that may be considered as part of an impact assessment. In Manitoba, the provincial impact assessment process is set out under The Environment Act.
Impact Assessment Reform Project Overview
In partnership with the University of Winnipeg and the Public Interest Law Centre of Legal Aid the Manitoba Eco-Network created Empowering the Community: Environmental Assessment Reform in Manitoba. This project is focused on gathering Manitoban’s insights on our current process under The Environment Act and identifying community priorities for impact assessment reform.
Funding for this project has been provided by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (892-2024-1048) and the Manitoba Law Foundation.
About the Manitoba Eco-Network
The Manitoba Eco-Network is a non-profit registered charity which seeks to strengthen Manitoba’s environmental community with the goal of protecting our environment for the benefit of current and future generations. The Eco-Network facilitates connections, engages in advocacy opportunities, and undertakes community-based research that promotes meaningful public participation in environmental governance processes.
We serve as an umbrella for environmental non-governmental organizations across the province. We build capacity and support grassroots organization’s participation in the environmental community, we celebrate positive environmental actions that happen within Manitoba, and work to elevate the voices of all those within our community.
About the Public Interest Law Centre of Legal Aid Manitoba
The Public Interest Law Centre represents groups and individuals on issues affecting the environment, human rights, Indigenous people, consumers and low-income persons. We are here to assist those who are far too often silenced in legal and public policy debates by providing high quality, evidence based advocacy.
About the University of Winnipeg Department of Geography
The University of Winnipeg is a public research university in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It offers undergraduate programs in art, business, economics, education, science and applied health as well as graduate programs. The University’s founding colleges were Manitoba College and Wesley College, which merged to form United College in 1938. The University of Winnipeg was established in 1967 when United College received its charter.
The Geography Department at the University of Winnipeg is a relatively large department, with faculty members who are trained in virtually all of the major fields of study. Course offerings large enough to offer both broad selection and the opportunity to develop specialization in an area of particular interest. The laboratory facilities are among the best in Canada. In addition to geomorphology, geology and soils labs, the Department has excellent facilities for the study of Remote Sensing, Cartography and Geographic Information Systems through 3 computers labs.
About the Project Team
Dr. Patricia Fitzpatrick
Patricia Fitzpatrick (she/her) is a Professor in the Department of Geography, and an Instructor in the Master’s of Development Practice – Indigenous Focus – at the University of Winnipeg. Dr. Fitzpatrick’s research and teaching focuses on environmental governance surrounding energy and mineral development in Canada. As part of this work she has been involved in 27 project-specific, and one regional impact assessments. Dr. Fitzpatrick currently serves as the co-chair of the Technical Advisory Committee on Science and Knowledge for the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada.
Heather Fast
Heather is the part-time Policy Advocacy Director of the Manitoba Eco-Network, a non-profit environmental organization in Winnipeg. She is a Ph.D Candidate at the University of Manitoba’s Natural Resources Institute studying ways to improve public access to environmental justice. She also teaches as a sessional instructor at the Faculty of Law (Environmental Law) at the University of Manitoba. Before she returned to Grad School, Heather practised law in Manitoba, receiving her Call to the Bar in 2014. During this time, she worked at a variety of organizations including the Public Interest Law Centre and the Manitoba Law Reform Commission.
Katrine Dilay
Katrine Dilay is a staff lawyer with the Public Interest Law Centre of Legal Aid Manitoba, where she has worked since 2015. In her work, she has represented consumer organizations, disability groups and equality seeking groups, as well as First Nations political organizations. Katrine practises mostly in the areas of consumer rights, human rights and environmental law. She has appeared before multiple administrative tribunals the Manitoba Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada.
