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Economic Development
| This page provides information about development decisions that affect Manitoba's
public lands and water. Certain provincial government departments and agencies
involved in development intentions are listed. Manitoba's environmental licensing
mechanisms and processes are provided, with links. Watch News
for stories about development intentions. See also Consultations/Licenses
for a listing of what's going on in Manitoba. |
Environmental Licensing |
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 Environmental licensing in Manitoba occurs through The Environment Act. The Environmental Assessment and Licensing Branch of Manitoba Conservation is responsible for all stages of environmental licensing in Manitoba. See their licence application details here.The Canada - Manitoba Agreement On Environmental Assessment Cooperation(PDF) mechanisms are part of licensing in Manitoba where there is federal responsibility identified as per provisions and regulations of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (See our Governments page for statutes, Manitoba, and Canada). The Cooperation agreement outlines the process by which a single environmental assessment occurs that addresses the assessment responsibilities of both levels of government (See section below for further details). The Manitoba Minister of Conservation can direct the Clean Environment Commission (CEC) to hold public hearings regarding environmental licenses for certain classes of development. The Minister responsible for the Act has the discretion to request public hearings for Class 2 and 3 developments under The Environment Act, such as:
Public registries hold public information and documents required in the licensing process. Public reviews, and comments are also held in the public registries. Applications, scoping documents, and final determinations on licenses are all part of the record. For a full listing of Manitoba public registries go to our Consultations/Licenses page. Manitoba Eco Net provides an electronic listing of public registry documents and file contents. Go to Public Registry on their home page. Canada - Manitoba Agreement On Environmental Assessment CooperationThe Canada-Manitoba Agreement on Environmental Assessment Cooperation(PDF) was signed by Manitoba and Canada in May 2000. The agreement expired in 2005 and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (the Agency) initiated a process to revise and renew the agreement. A draft Canada-Manitoba Agreement on Environmental Assessment Cooperation (2005) was released in November 2005 and the public invited to comment on the draft. The public comment period closed December 16, 2005.On March 5, 2007, Canada and Manitoba jointly announced the signing of the renewed Canada-Manitoba Agreement on Environmental Assessment Cooperation. View the 2007 Canada-Manitoba Agreement on Environmental Assessment Cooperation View the March 5, 2007 Canada-Manitoba press release The renewed 2007 Canada-Manitoba Agreement on Environmental Assessment Cooperation builds upon the 2000 agreement and has been updated to reflect the amendments to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act which came into effect on October 30, 2003. The agreement will remain in force for five years. Prior to its expiration, Canada and Manitoba will evaluate the Agreement and their performance in relation to it, after which time it will either be renewed or terminated. The evaluation will include opportunities for public consultation. View the backgrounder on the 2007 Canada-Manitoba Agreement on Environmental Assessment Cooperation View the history of the federal-provincial environmental assessment agreement Source: Government of Canada
Environment Act AmendmentsIn late 2001 and early 2002 a consultation was undertaken to identify a variety of amendments to Manitoba's Environment Act. The records of this public review, including the discussion paper, and final report on the consultation are held in Manitoba's public registry. As of February 2003 no amendments to the Act have been made public, or tabled in the Legislature. The context for these proposed amendments and the review is the COSDI report.In early 2006 a series of amendments to Regulation 164/88 under Manitoba's Environment Act were placed in the public registry for comment. These largely pertain to enabled wind turbine projects in Manitoba, without public hearings, regardless of size of the project or potential impacts from the project. Currently Manitoba is making licensing decisions regarding wind energy projects without arriving at public environmental standards, or undertaking public hearings for wind energy projects, ethanol plants and other alternative energy developments. To date the review of the Environment Act, and amendments from 2002 have not been tabled in the Manitoba Legislature, and COSDI recommendations which require changes to the Act have not been finalized. Manitoba Wildlands responded to the request for public comments on the changes to the regulation above. The public comments letter includes 4 previous sets of formal correspondence from Manitoba Wildlands that are pertinent to the current regulation review.  Download the Manitoba Wildlands/CNF October 17, 2003 comments: Sequoia Energy Inc. - St. Leon Wind Energy Project (PDF)Download the Manitoba Wildlands/CNF December 12, 2003 appeal of the environmental license for Sequoia Energy Inc. - St. Leon Wind Energy Project (PDF)Download the Manitoba Wildlands March, 8, 2006 comments: Killarney Wind Energy Project (PDF)Download the Manitoba Wildlands April 12, 2006 comments: Dacotah Wind Energy Project & Classes of Development Regulation (PDF)Download the Manitoba Wildlands May 15, 2006 Comments: Classes of Development Regulation 164/88 Under the Environment Act (PDF)
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National Energy Board |
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 The National Energy Board of Canada (NEB) is an independent federal agency responsible for monitoring and regulating several aspects of Canada's energy industry. NEB responsibilities include the regulation of electricity exports to the United States, construction and operation of international transmission lines, and elements of the oil and gas sectors. The NEB also studies and monitors various aspects of the energy sector. The NEB's corporate purpose is to "promote safety, environmental protection and economic efficiency in the Canadian public interest within the mandate set by Parliament." It operates under the National Energy Board Act, with responsibilities under other sets of legislation as well. Visit the National Energy Board website View the National Energy Board responsibilities Manitoba Hydro has a series of NEB licenses that permit the company to sell electricity into the United States. (No NEB licenses are required for sale into Canadian provinces.) Manitoba Hydro also operates four transmission lines that connect with American markets. These also fall under the purview of the NEB. Export of energy to the United States is central to the operations of Manitoba Hydro. Between 1999 and 2004 Manitoba Hydro sold 30.5% of the energy it generated into American markets (measured by revenue rather than kilowatt hours). Manitoba Hydro exports energy to dozens of American companies including Minneapolis-based Xcel Energy. Sources: National Energy Board and Manitoba Hydro 53rd Annual Report, 2004, PDF page 88.  |
Energy Development |
For information, Click here |
Manitoba Forest Companies & Tenure |
For information, Click here |
Mining |
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Manitoba's mineral industry has been dominated by nickel, gold,
and copper mines with specialty minerals like cesium being mined more recently.
Mineral exploration includes recent diamond permits on the East Side of
the province. The peat, sand and gravel, and stone industries are also
active in the province.In 1999, Minister Mihychuk confirmed Manitoba's Minerals Guideline: Guiding Principles for Success. The protocol is the result of workshops held over two years. Access the Guideline at ITM - Manitoba Minerals Guideline. Presentation to Mines Ministers The
National Mines Ministers Conference (MMC) was held in Winnipeg September
17, 18 2002. Each year all governments in Canada, represented by
ministers responsible for mining, meet to discuss common challenges
and policy initiatives.
The theme conference was, "The Top Three Priorities: Sustainable Development
of Mining in Canada".Gaile Whelan Enns, Manitoba Director, Wildlands Campaign, Canadian Nature Federation made a presentation entitled, "Manitoba's Protected Areas Commitments, The Mining Sector Consultation - Working Toward Sustainability" . Her presentation provides background about the Manitoba Mining Sector Protected Areas Consultation. It provides a history of the consultation and describes the technical basis used, partners involved, and mechanism to rank areas for protection. View Presentation to Mines Ministers Conference (without maps) Download DOC
Download PDF
Maps (4.6MB)View Canadian Mines Ministers Conference - Open Session Transcript (CNF presentation highlighted in red) Download DOC
Award for Protected Areas Consultation
During the September 2002 National Mines Ministers'
conference in Winnipeg, the Prospectors and Developers Association of
Canada (PDAC) presented Manitoba Minister Mihychuk its annual 'claim
stakers' award. This award acknowledges Manitoba's multi year mining
sector consultation for the establishment of protected areas. It also
acknowledges the government of Manitoba for its participation in the
mining sector's protected areas consultation. Each year the PDAC 'claim
stakers' awards acknowledge government actions and public policy initiatives
for the mining sector.Visit the PDAC website The Manitoba Geological Survey web site contains information about all current dispositions and properties in Manitoba. Their Map Gallery can be accessed at ITM - Geological Survey - GIS map gallery. |
Transportation |
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Manitoba Highway Speed Increase ReportManitoba's proposed 2008 increase to speed limits on the four lane Highways; 1 and 75, is raising environmental, economic, and safety concerns. The Manitoba Government contracted a report, which claims a 2.5 percent increase in speed could result in a 12 percent increase in fatalities and 7 percent increase in serious personal injuries. Highway Traffic Board hearings will be held during February 2008. For hearing details go to our Calendar. Download the October 2007 Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation Executive Summary (PDF)View January 17, 2008 Manitoba Wildlands news item 2020 - Manitoba's Transportation Vision InitiativeIn July 2005, the Minister of Transportation & Government Services released the report and recommendations of the 2020 Transport Vision Steering Committee.Eleven general themes and recommendations for each theme are presented in the 2020 Transport Vision report. According to the Steering Committee, these themes are necessary to a comprehensive transportation plan.
Download the July 2005 report, 2020-Manitoba Transportation Vision - Strategic Directions Report (PDF)View the July 14, 2005 Transportation and Government Services press release The report is the result of a process that began on April 25, 2002 with the announcement of the 2020 - Manitoba's Transportation Vision initiative by the Minister of Transportation & Government Services. The 2020 Transport Vision initiative was a process to develop a long-term transportation investment plan. The mandated task given to the ten-member 2020 Transport Vision Steering Committee was to consult with the broader public on the state of Manitoba's transportation infrastructure. Over two years, the Steering Committee conducted public workshops in 15 Manitoba communities, and hosted 7 other open public meetings. The steering committee also used a public opinion survey, comment forms, written submissions, e-mail, and a telephone hot line to gain input from members of the public. According to the 2020 Transport Vision web site, the government will also be seeking more suggestions and feedback as it moves forward with a long-term transportation investment plan. However, no details as to the next steps for this process or when they will occur have been provided.
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 The governments of Nunavut and Manitoba and Kivalliq Inuit Association have funded a study and public input process to determine the route for a road link between Rankin Inlet and Manitoba. The Yellowknife-based consulting firm of Nishi-Khon/SNC-Lavalin, a majority aboriginal-owned, multidisciplinary engineering organization was retained to complete the study and public input process.Visit the Nunavut-Manitoba Route Selection Study website (hosted by SNC-Lavalin) The Manitoba-Nunavut road is initially intended to be a winter road, with an eventual up-grade to an all-weather, all-season road. From Rankin Inlet, the route will proceed south to connect with Manitoba's all-weather road system at Lynn Lake, Thompson or Gillam. The Port of Churchill will also be connected to the route. A technical process was initiated to identify feasible all-weather road route alternatives. These selected routes were based on the collection and analysis of topographic and geological routing control information as well as on the collection and evaluation of social, economic and environmental information. This information was coordinated and analyzed to identify opportunities and issues associated with the selection of three competing alternative road routes. Alternative routes generated by the consultant team were presented to the Project Advisory Council and the general public during the first round of community meetings, which were completed in October 2006. 15 meetings were held in communities in Kivalliq and northern Manitoba. Meetings were held with First Nations organizations and selected non-government organizations (including the Keewatinook Ininew Okimowin (MKIO), the Beverly and Qamanirjuaq Caribou Management Board, Thompson Unlimited and the Hudson Bay Neighbours Regional Round Table). The routes were also shown to Manitoba Conservation, who suggested modifications to avoid provincial parks and areas of special interest. View the 2005-06 first round of public meetings and materials; maps of route options, Presentation, 2005 Newsletter Following the completion of the first round of public meetings, the consultant team reduced the number of alternatives to three - a western route, a central route, and an eastern route - based on community input and best engineering judgment. All three potential routes include a northern common route. |
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Study Key Map Larger Version (PDF) |
The consultant team used an approach called 'Multiple Account Evaluation (MAE)' to compare the three potential routes, resulting in selection of the eastern route as the favoured route. The second round of public meetings was held during February 2007, with meetings taking place in Rankin Inlet, Whale Cove, Arviat, Churchill and Thompson. Project Advisory Council meetings also took place in February 2007 in Rankin Inlet and Thompson. Stakeholders and communities were asked to provide input to the study team in order to confirm and refine the location of the preferred route. |
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Download the 2007 newsletter that includes: alternative routes map, and explanations 'Multiple Account Evaluation (MAE)' approach (PDF) View the 2007 second round of public consultations and consultation materials: Study Key Map, Presentation to Project Advisory Council, 2007 Newsletter As of April 2007, no records or summaries of public meetings are posted on the Nishi-Khon/SNC-Lavalin website. No public meetings have been held in Winnipeg and outside of affected communities, the general public has not been notified of meetings or offered the opportunity to provide feedback on the proposed route alternatives. Source: Nishi-Khon/SNC-Lavalin
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| The Manitoba Government announced an intention to undertake a route selection process for an east side all-weather road system in April 2007. A request for proposals will be issued in late 2007 to undertake the selection process. Infrastructure and Transportation Minister Ron Lemieux indicated in an April 20, 2007 press release that Manitoba has "written to the federal government to ensure it will be a full partner in the process." The geographic scope under consideration is an area that extends from the vicinity of Manigotagan in the south to Oxford House in the north, and from Lake Winnipeg on the west to the Ontario border. |
Rice River Road Extension Options Map Larger Version |
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| First Nation communities in the region include: Bloodvein River, Berens River, Poplar River, Little Grand Rapids, Pauingassi, St. Theresa Point, Waasagomach, Garden Hill, Red Sucker Lake, Norway House, Cross Lake, Oxford House, Gods River and Gods Lake Narrows. Discussions about a transportation network study for the east side have been ongoing for several years. To date there has been no commitment by Canada's federal government to share costs for such a network. In the face of climate change community access needs have increased. View the April 20, 2007 Government of Manitoba press release Source: Government of Manitoba
Manitoba Commits Funds for Bloodvein River Road
Infrastructure and Transportation Minister Ron Lemieux announced a commitment of $15 million for construction and upgrades to the Rice River Road on Manitoba's east side April 5, 2007. The announcement reflects references in the April 4, 2007 Manitoba Budget Speech. The funds are to be spent over the next five years to rebuild the existing Rice River Road and extend it to Bloodvein River First Nation. This will involve upgrading the entire 90 km route, creating necessary bridge links. The provincial funds announced are a fraction of the total costs. Federal funds will be needed to undertake the road project. The engineering study for the extension and upgrade of the Rice River Road to Bloodvein was initiated in 2002 but wasn't released until fall 2005 (see below). This study is not available to the public, and is not available in electronic format. The Rice River Road was originally constructed for use in logging operations by Pine Falls Paper Company, now owned by Tembec. It is considered to be the main stem for an all-weather road system for the east side of Lake Winnipeg. View the April 5, 2007 Government of Manitoba press release The April 2007 announcement provided no information regarding the environmental review and licensing process that precedes construction. The Manitoba Government indicated it is continuing to seek federal assistance to share costs of construction work and has begun negotiations to undertake a cost-shared, wide-area transportation network. A 2000 preliminary scoping study estimated the cost of an all-weather transportation network for Manitoba's east side at close to $1 million per kilometer of all-weather road. The full road system for the east side would require several hundred kilometers. Detailed socio-economic, environmental analyses of costs and benefits of potential routes for this all-weather road system have not yet been undertaken. View the November 8, 2000 Government of Manitoba press release View the Executive Summary for the 2000 East Side of Lake Winnipeg Road Scoping and Justification Study by H.N Westdal & Associates and Dillon Consulting Download the Review of the 2000 East Side of Lake Winnipeg Road Scoping and Justification Study (PDF)Source: Government of Manitoba
The Rice River road was originally constructed by the Pine Falls Paper Company (now Tembec) as a logging road in the 1970s and l980s. It isalso the first part of the winter road to communities north along the east side of Lake Winnipeg and the Island Lake area. The report evaluates several options and identifies a recommended alignment for extending the Rice River Road to Bloodvein First Nation. The full report and executive summary are not available online and are not listed in any public registry file. Contact the Highway Planning and Design Branch of Manitoba Transportation and Government Services (204.945.5225) or UMA Engineering (204.284.0580) View the Existing and Proposed Roads - East Side Manitoba Map |
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Sustainable Development |
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 Manitoba's
Sustainable Development Act includes a set of principles and guidelines.
We are posting access to the Act, significant reports, public policies, and
initiatives
identified by government as being part of sustainable development for Manitoba.
From 1997 to 1999 the Manitoba government undertook the Consultation on Sustainable
Development Implementation (COSDI). Many of the recommendations
from COSDI are the basis for current sustainable development policy and regulatory
changes. It should be noted that environmental organizations did not sign
off on COSDI. Also the intended public consultation regarding COSDI recommendations
has not occurred. Please see our Links and Governments
pages. View the Sustainable Development Act View the Sustainable Development Principles and Guidelines View the Consultation On Sustainable Development Implementation (COSDI) Report Download theProvincial Sustainable Development Code of Practice (DOC)Download the Sustainable Development Financial Management Guidelines (DOC) |
Sustainable Development Links, |
click here |
2002-2008