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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.
Key Takeaways:
•Impact assessment processes identify possible impacts (good and bad) that a proposed project may have.
•The purpose of an impact assessment is to help decision-makers plan ways to avoid or reduce negative impacts before they happen, and enhance positive outcomes.
Impact Assessment Reform Project Overview
In partnership with the University of Manitoba and the Public Interest Law Centre, the Manitoba Eco-Network has been working on an Impact Assessment Reform project, Empowering the Community: Impact 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.
Resources
- Fact Sheets
- Research Memos
- At the request of some of the participants at our public workshops on Impact Assessment we have made the slide deck presentation available online.
How to Get Involved
To stay updated on the ways that you can get involved in this project, become an Eco-Network member or follow us on social media at our Instagram or Facebook page.
Project Partners
This project is a partnership between the Manitoba Eco-Network, the University of Winnipeg (Dr. Patricia Fitzpatrick), and the Public Interest Law Centre.
Bios
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.”
Katrine Dilay
“Katrine Dilay is a staff lawyer with the Public Interest Law Centre, 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 the Public Utilities Board, the National Energy Board, the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission, the Social Services Appeal Board and the Manitoba Court of Appeal.”
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.”
Funding Acknowledgement
This project would not be possible without Financial assistance provided by the Manitoba Law Foundation and Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC).
Support Manitoba Eco-Network in providing public education on environmental law.
Project Updates
September 25, 2025
Research Memos
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September 25, 2025
Fact Sheets
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August 5, 2025
EIA Research Memoranda: August 2025 Update
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June 6, 2025
$250 Survey Draw Prize Winner Announced
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