MVEIRB Interview Preamble and Questions

Dear Mr. Ehrlich,

My name is Rada Vukovic and I am a graduate student from McGill University in the Environmental Assessment program.  As of current, I am conducting research for an academic paper in collaboration with Environment Canada (EC) and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) – GeoConnections’ program on Integrated Landscape Management.   The research area of concentration is related to environmental assessment administration in the Northwest Territories. The purpose of the research paper is to conduct a comparative analysis of pertinent legislation, roles and responsibilities of authorities, and practice to determine any gaps that exist. The research paper will also examine the scope and role of Environmental Impact Assessment, Regional Environmental Assessment, and Strategic Environmental Assessment.

As a senior environmental officer with the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board and your experience in the regulatory and environment assessment process in the Northwest Territories would offer an added value to this study. It would be of great appreciation, if you would be able to participate in an interview/questionnaire. Your participation will assist in strengthening the research by providing validity and insight into other dimensions, perhaps not taken into consideration.  As for the interview/questionnaire, the questions revolve around MVEIRB’s experience with environmental assessment practices and cover the following themes: Roles and responsibilities of authorities; collaboration procedures; general administration processes, the role of legislation and cumulative effects assessment; and lastly of regional and strategic environmental assessment.  The interview will conclude with an opportunity for you to ask any questions.

I have attached the questionnaire for your information. If you are interested to contribute to our study, I would welcome the opportunity to compile your input in whatever form is most convenient to you. You may respond in writing to me at your convenience, or I would be pleased to document your input through a telephone interview.  The expected duration of a phone interview would be approximately one hour. I will then follow-up via email with the progress and results of study.

The results of the interview will be assessed and compiled by myself, and reviewed by my advisors Dr. Mark Curtis (McGill University), Dr. Livia Bizikova (IISD), and Dr. Ruth Waldick (EC).  Our hope is that the results will ultimately be published in a peer-reviewed journal. In addition, the information will be used to contribute to my final research project paper (non-thesis). Personal information, such as your name, position and contact information will be kept confidential unless you wish to grant permission to be named. Your participation is voluntary and you may decline to answer any question and/or withdraw from the interview at anytime.  

Consent:  I wish to be identified in the report   ____YES     ___NO

                 I agree to be tape-recorded ____YES ____NO

                 I grant permission to use direct quotes with or without attribution ____YES ___NO

                 I allow my organization to be identified in the report  ____ YES ___ NO

                 I have read the above information and I agree to participate in this study

                 Signature:   ____________________________           Researcher’s signature: ________________________

                 Name: ________________________________           Date: ____________________

Sincerely,

Rada Vukovic

Project Researcher

M.Sc Renewable Resources (Non-Thesis) Environmental Assessment Candidate

McGill University, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences

Address:  324 Melrose Street, Etobicoke, ON  M8Z 1G8

Email: Rada.Vukovic@mail.mcgill.ca | Mobile: 647-984-7232 | Fax: 416-253-0384

In Collaboration with:

 Interview Questionnaire

CONTACT INFORMATION (for record purposes):

First Name: ___________________   Last Name:________________________       Date:_________________ 

Position Title:_____________________________________________________________________________

Organization:_____________________________________________________________________________

Email:__________________________________ Telephone:________________________________________

1.     How does MVEIRB collaborate with other federal departments, provincial and territorial governments, boards and agencies with regards to environmental impact assessment?

2.     Based on previous environmental impact assessments, Indian and Northern Affairs along with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans top the list as being lead Responsible Authorities in the federal EIA process. In MVEIRB experience, are there variations in how environmental impact assessments are carried out by lead agency?

3.     What are the jurisdictional boundaries of the MVEIRB?

4.     Are the legislations below applicable and/or considered during any phase in the environmental impact assessment process?

a.     Canadian Environmental Protection Act

b.     Fisheries Act

c.     Oceans Act

d.     Species at Risk Act

e.     Migratory Birds Act

5.     In general, how is federal and Territorial legislation applied on aboriginal land in the Northwest Territories? With respect to land claims settlements such as the:

a.     Gwitch'in Land Claim Settlement Act 

b.     Sahtu Dene and Metis Land Claim Settlement Act 

c.     Western Arctic (Inuvialuit) Claims Settlement Agreement 

6.  Based on literature reviewed, the following is a list of deficiencies in the EIA process.  Could you elaborate on MVEIRB experience?

a.     Inadequate capacity, such as lack of capital, resources, time

b.     Inadequate information available for guidance and standards to follow

c.     Inadequate monitoring and follow-up 

d.     Inadequate review in preliminary phases

e.     Misunderstanding of  roles and responsibilities

f.     Process driven vs. objective driven (such as the objective of environmental protection)

g.     A planning tool as opposed to a decision-making tool

h.     Focused on short-term effects

i.      Inadequate involvement of public participation

j.      Inadequate incorporation of cumulative effects

7.     From MVEIRB experience, are the above deficiencies related to the scope of the EIA process, being project based? Such as that for cumulative effects assessment?

8.   Does MVEIRB have any roles and responsibilities with regards to strategic environmental assessments and regional environmental assessments? 

9.   How are initiatives such as the Beaufort Sea Strategic Regional Plan of Action and Cumulative Impact Monitoring Program for the NWT reflected in Environmental Impact Assessments?

10. Are there other considerations that need to be examine in this study?

11.   Do you have any additional comments and suggestions?

Coming Soon