Manitoba Clean Environment Commission

Hearings

Regional Cumulative Effects Assessment

Terms of Reference

On March 2, 2017 the Minister of Sustainable Development, issued Terms of Reference regarding the Regional Cumulative Effects Assessment for the Churchill, Burntwood and Nelson river systems. Information regarding the project and the Terms of Reference can be accessed below.
In its 2013 report on the Bipole III Project, the Clean Environment Commission (the Commission) made the following recommendation: "Manitoba Hydro, in cooperation with the Manitoba Government, conduct a Regional Cumulative Effects Assessment for all Manitoba Hydro projects and associated infrastructure in the Nelson River sub-watershed; and that this be undertaken prior to the licensing of any additional projects in the Nelson River sub-watershed after the Bipole III project." This recommendation was accepted by Manitoba and a Terms of Reference for a regional cumulative effects assessment of hydroelectric developments was agreed to by Manitoba and Manitoba Hydro in May 2014. It should be noted the scope was expanded to include areas beyond that identified in the Commission's recommendation to include the Churchill, Burntwood and Nelson River systems. The study was completed in two phases. The first phase was completed in May 2014, and included a compilation of available data and a description of the assessment approach to be used to analyze the data in the second phase. The second phase report was released in December 2015.

Background Information

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Instructions on submitting a written submission are available under the "Participation" tab.

Panel Members

Serge Scrafield (Chair)

Serge Scrafield was appointed Chair of the Clean Environment Commission in September 2016.

Mr. Scrafield retired from the Manitoba Government in 2014 after 38 years of service. For 22 of these years Mr. Scrafield served as an Assistant Deputy Minister for the former departments of Environment and Conservation and Water Stewardship. Early in his career he worked in land planning with the former departments of Municipal Affairs and Rural Development.

Neil Harden (Commissioner)

Neil Harden is a retired Professional Engineer with many years experience in the water resources field. He worked for more than 20 years as a Hydraulic Engineer and Hydrologist with the Manitoba Water Resources Branch, including during the flood of 1997. He also worked for Ducks Unlimited Canada doing wetland conservation across Canada. Neil served over 12 years on the Municipal Board of Manitoba. He has a BSc in Civil Engineering and a Master of Engineering degree, both from the University of Manitoba.

Glennis Lewis (Commissioner)

Dr. Glennis Lewis has a multidisciplinary academic background with two degrees in law (LL.B., LL.M.) and three degrees in science (B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.). She has had a diverse career as an environmental consultant, researcher, federal civil servant and lawyer. Her work has focused on the development of environmental law and policy at national and international levels. She also has considerable experience with environmental impact assessment hearings. Dr. Lewis lives in Brandon where she continues to pursue her interests in environmental law, biodiversity conservation and natural history.

Terry Johnson (Commissioner)

Terry Johnson graduated from Red River College as an electrical technologist and worked for Manitoba Hydro for over 13 years. Terry and his wife then moved back to the family farm in the Elkhorn area and farmed for over 23 years. After selling most of their farm they moved to Virden, where they now live. Mr. Johnson then worked for the Virden Credit Union for over five years while being was semi-retired. During this time he served as councilor for the RM of Archie and as Reeve and later, for the town of Virden as councilor and Deputy Mayor. Terry has had the rare privilege of serving on a number of municipal, provincial and federal boards and local community organizations. Spare time is spent travelling and part time farming.

Jim Shaw (Commissioner)

Jim Shaw served as in-house counsel to Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation from 1977 to his retirement in 2008, appearing on numerous motions, pre-trial conferences, mediations and trials, as well as acting for MPIC in appeals before the Automobile Injury Compensation Appeal Commission. He also served as Director of the Legal Department and Internal Review Office during the last five years of his career, having responsibility for all aspects their day-to-day operations. Previously, he had been in private practice, handling wills and estates, civil and criminal litigation, real estate transactions and corporate/commercial matters.

Tim Sopuck (Commissioner)

Tim Sopuck was born and raised in Manitoba, earned a BSc (Hons.) in Zoology at the University of Manitoba and has worked for over three decades in habitat conservation and related fields. Mr. Sopuck is currently Chief Executive Officer of the Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corporation, where he has worked for over two decades. Prior to that he worked at Fort Whyte Alive (Director of Development) and Ducks Unlimited (Bio-Technician). Mr. Sopuck currently serves on the Boards of the Assiniboine River Basin Initiative, Canadian Land Trust Alliance, Prairie Habitat Joint Venture and North American Wetlands Conservation Council (Canada). Tim also has direct experience with the trapping industry, as well as a remote commercial fishery, having lived for 18 months in a Cree-and-Metis community in northern Manitoba.

Upload a Written Submission or Presentation

As set out in the Terms of Reference provided by the minister and outlined in the Review Directive, a web-based review process is to be available for those who may have comments regarding the RCEA, but are outside the region of interest. To submit written comments use the on-line system below, filling in your contact information and attaching a written submission. DEADLINE FOR WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS IS OCTOBER 2, 2017.

Written submissions are welcome please send to cec@gov.mb.ca



OR Send us a written submission as an e-mail attachment. Please do not include personal information in the submission. E-mail address cec@gov.mb.ca. OR Send us a written submission in the mail. Please include a covering letter with your contact information, separate from the submission. Do not include personal information in the submission. Mailing address: Clean Environment Commission 305-155 Carlton St. Winnipeg, MB R3C 3H8

Transcripts


Presentations


Written Submissions

Final Report

The Minister of Sustainable Development released the RCEA Final report on August 21, 2018. A limited number of printed copies are available on request.