Parks Canada
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Dear Ms. Kirk,
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.
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 Parks Canada’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:
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Dr. Mark Curtis Faculty Supervisor
McGill University, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Science 21 111 Lakeshore Road Ste. Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec H9X 3V9, Canada
Email: mark.curtis@mcgill.ca Fax: 514-398-7990 Telephone: 514 398-7728 |
Dr. Ruth Waldick Project Lead Contact
Environment Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre Raven Road, 1125 Colonel By Drive Carleton University Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0H3
Email: Ruth.Waldick@ec.gc.ca Fax: (613) 998-0458 Telephone: Office (613) 998-7314 |
Dr. Livia Bizikova Project Lead Contact
International Institute for Sustainable Development, Measurement and Assessment Program 161 Portage Avenue East, 6th Floor Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 0Y4
Email: lbizikova@iisd.ca Fax: (204) 958-7710 Telephone: (204) 958-7753 |
Interview Questionnaire
CONTACT INFORMATION (for record purposes):
First Name: ___________________ Last Name:________________________ Date:_________________
Position Title:_____________________________________________________________________________
Organization:_____________________________________________________________________________
Email:__________________________________ Telephone:________________________________________
QUESTIONNAIRE:
Please answer as many questions as possible. If you are not able to answer the question please indicate why:
Not Aware | Confidential Information | Not Applicable | Other _____________
1. How does Parks Canada collaborate with other federal departments, provincial and territorial governments, boards and agencies with regards to environmental impact assessment and strategic environmental assessment process?
2. What are the responsibilities of Parks Canada , when triggered as a Responsible Authority in an Environmental Impact Assessment?
3. As a Responsible Authority, what methods or guidelines exist to assist in the process?
4. What are methods and guidelines to monitor compliance with the Environmental Assessment Act and proponent’s terms of reference?
5. 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
6. In general, how is federal 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
7. Does Parks Canada have a role and responsibilities with regards to strategic environmental assessments and regional environmental assessments?
8. Does Parks Canada have a role and responsibility with regards to cumulative effect assessments in environmental impact assessments.
9. Are there challenges with addressing cumulative effects in environmental impact assessments
10. Based on literature reviewed, the following is a list of deficiencies in the EA process. Could you elaborate on Parks Canada’s 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
11. How does Parks Canada, determine the scope of cumulative effects assessment in Environmental Impact Assessments?
12. How are strategic objectives incorporated in Environmental Impact Assessments?
13. Are there other considerations that need to be examine in this study?
14. Do you have any additional comments and suggestions?