Understanding the Process
We provide a forum at which the public can participate in environmental assessment and decision-making, and in offering advice and recommendations to the government
Glossary Licensing LegislationGlossary
| Commissioner | A Commissioner of the Clean Environment Commission is a person appointed by the Lieutenant Governor General in Council to serve on the Commission and provide advice to the Minister through participation in hearings, investigations and mediation. |
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| Exhibit | An exhibit is any material provided as evidence at a formal pre-hearing meeting/conference or at the hearing proper. Exhibits may include a project proposal, written submissions, presentations, reference materials or expert witness credentials. |
| Hearing | A Hearing is a formal quasi-judicial (operates similar to the court system) review that includes public input as set out by Clean Environment Commission Process Guidelines. During the hearing process the Commission Panel collects information (evidence) only from the Proponent, Participants, Presenters and the regulator (Province), assesses it and makes a recommendation to the Minister responsible for The Environment Act. |
| Investigation | An Investigation is a fact finding activity that the Commission may engage in to determine and assess underlying scientific or policy concerns regarding a particular issue. During an investigation any source of information can be explored or used, this may include information received at a public meeting, from written submissions, from different government departments, federal authorities, academics and researchers, industry representatives and published literature. Activities may continue until the Panel is satisfied it has the necessary information to make an informed recommendation to the Minister responsible for The Environment Ac. |
| Legislation | Legislation is the law, regulations and rules that define the activities and the limits of the Clean Environment Commission duties. The governing legislation of the Commission is The Environment Act and The Contaminated Sites Remediation Act. |
| Licensing | Environmental licensing or the issuance of a licence to undertake or maintain an activity, with conditions, is the function of the Department . The Environmental Approvals Branch administers the environmental licensing process. The Clean Environment Commission’s only involvement in the licensing process is when the Minister requests that the Commission review a particular proposal, either by way of a hearing or investigation, and provide recommendations. |
| Mandate | The mandate of the Clean Environment Commission is set out by its governing legislation. The mandate is the defined activities that the Commission may participate in. |
| Participant | A Participant is a party to a hearing and has been so named by the Commission. These are persons or groups that may be directly or highly affected by the proposed project and/or who will bring additional comprehensive and substantive information to the hearing. |
| Presenter | A Presenter is a party to a Hearing or Investigation that have been so named by the Commission. These persons or groups have relevant evidence to present to the Panel but not at the same level of detail as Participants. Presenters have fewer privileges and responsibilities than a Participant in the Hearing process. |
| Presentations | Presentations are the speeches, statements and/or visual presentation given to the Panel at a public meeting or hearing. In a hearing these presentations are included in the exhibit list. |
| Proponent | A Proponent is the company, organization or agency that is wishing to conduct a project or undertake a development. A Proponent may be a private company or a government agency. |
| Public Meeting | A public meeting is usually held when the Commission undertakes an investigation. A public meeting is governed by the Clean Environment Commission Process Guidelines. A public meeting is only one way in which the Commission collects information during an investigation. |
| Submissions | Submissions are written comments, presentations or critical reviews of a project that are sent to the Commission regarding a particular project. These submissions become part of the public record. Submissions may be received electronically or in printed form. |
| Terms of Reference | Terms of Reference are the instructions provided by the Minister that outline the topic of a requested review and the focus of the specific items that should be addressed. |