Manitoba Eco-Network to Hold Public Workshops Across the Province on Impact Assessment

Manitoba Eco-Network to Hold Public Workshops Across the Province on Impact Assessment

Manitoba Eco-Network, in collaboration with the Public Interest Law Centre and the University of Winnipeg, is pleased to announce a series of workshops on environmental impact assessment. 

Three public workshops will be held across Manitoba, starting with Brandon on April 17th, The Pas on April 25th, and Winnipeg on April 27th. Further event details can be found below. The workshops will discuss environmental impact assessment within Manitoba. These workshops are free to attend, and no experience with environmental impact assessment is required.

Environmental impact assessment evaluates potential risks of new projects. For example, the construction of a mining project may have negative consequences to the surrounding area. 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. In Manitoba, the provincial impact assessment process is set out under  The Environment Act. 

The workshops are focused on engaging with Manitoba communities and educating communities on what environmental impact assessment is and how it can be best reformed. Our goal is to gain public feedback. How should environmental impact assessment be designed? Should social, cultural and health factors be considered within an environmental impact assessment? 

“Manitobans have been asking for reform of the Act for decades, so we’re looking forward to hearing everyone’s ideas and better understanding the public’s interests and needs to create a process that works to protect the environment, safeguard people, and provide the best value to Manitobans,” 

-Project Team Member, Heather Fast (Manitoba Eco-Network).

The outcomes from this project will be published in Summer 2025. 

“We hope this project leads to improvements that both consider the positive impacts projects can have on communities including in terms of employment opportunities, while also better protecting the environment and the health of Manitobans. We need a provincial impact assessment process that meets modern standards for environmental protection and public participation.”

 -Team member, Katrine Dilay (Public Interest Law Centre). 

 

Workshop Dates:


Brandon,Time: April 17, 12 PM

Location: Assiniboine College, 1430 Victoria Avenue East, Brandon

Room: ACSA Crossroads

Attendance is free. Refreshments will be provided.

RSVP:  https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/1291965827569?aff=oddtdtcreator 

 

The Pas

Time: Apr 25, 5 PM

Location: Sam Waller Museum, 306 Fischer Avenue, The Pas

Attendance is free. Refreshments will be provided.

RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/1291975837509?aff=oddtdtcreator

 

Winnipeg 

Time: April 27, 1 PM 

Location: University of Winnipeg 515 Portage Avenue Winnipeg

Room: Manitoba Boardroom 2M70

Attendance is free. Refreshments will be provided.

RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/1291935406579?aff=oddtdtcreator

 

Funding for this work has been provided by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research

Council of Canada (892-2024-1048) and the Manitoba Law Foundation.