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.  

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: Environmental Assessment Reform in Manitoba. This project is focused on gathering Manitobans’ insights on our current process under The Environment Act and identifying community priorities for impact assessment reform. 

Over the coming months, we will be gathering feedback from Manitobans through a public survey and a series of in-person community workshops.  

Key Questions: 

•What do you know about Manitoba’s impact assessment process? 

•What are your concerns regarding Manitoba’s provincial impact assessment process? 

•What, if any, impact assessment reforms would you like to see implemented in Manitoba?  

Three workshops aimed at the general public will be conducted in April 2025 in the following locations: 

Brandon Public Workshop
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 Public Workshop
Time: Apr 25, 5:00pm
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 Public Workshop
Time: April 27, 1:00 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

The goal of these workshops is to increase public knowledge of environmental impact assessment and to understand the community’s reform priorities. We are seeking to gather a diverse range of views from both urban and rural Manitoba.

What's Going to Happen at the Workshops?

During the first part of the workshop, participants will hear presentations from the project team about the current state of impact assessment in Manitoba. Interactive polling tools will be used (i.e., Mentimeter) to help identify priorities and gather feedback. In the second part of the workshop, participants will be placed in a small group with 5-6 other participants. Each group will have a facilitator and a note-taker. Participants will be asked a variety of basic questions to gather insights on how they think impact assessment should be done in Manitoba. Participation in the workshops is voluntary, questions can be skipped and participants can end participation at any time.

How Do I Register?

If you are interested in participating in one of our upcoming impact assessment workshops, please RSVP on Eventbrite at any one of the three workshops scheduled for:

• Brandon on April 17th,
• The Pas on April 25th and
• Winnipeg on April 27th.

Background Materials

As part of our Empowering Impact Assessment project the Manitoba Eco-Network, in collaboration with the Public Interest Law Centre and the University of Winnipeg, is pleased to release a series of fact sheets on environmental impact assessment for a series of public workshops on environmental impact assessment across Manitoba. These fact sheets will also serve as useful reference materials for the public, including academic and community researchers. The facts sheets below are not required reading for participating in the workshops, but they are available for participants that wish to engage further and learn more.

• Impact Asessment 101
• Indigenous-Led Impact Assessment
• Meaningful Public Participation
• Factors Considered in Impact Assessment
• Health, Social, and Economic Impact Assessment
• Cumulative Effects Assessment
• Regional Cumulative Effects Assessment
• Enforcement
• After Approval, What Happens?

We are gathering feedback from Manitobans through a public survey and a series of in-person community workshops.  

Our survey is now closed! It was open from March 11 to April 2, 2025. We will share the results in due course.

A workshop for experts and community members with expertise and experience participating in impact assessment processes will be held in early Summer 2025 in Winnipeg, MB.  *Stay posted for more updates. 

To stay updated on ways to get involved in this project, become a Eco-Network member (see homepage for details) or follow us on social media (Instagram: mbeconetwork) (Facebook: Manitoba Eco-Network).