Conservation

Proposed Bipole III Project:  Crown – Aboriginal Consultation

The Government of Manitoba recognizes that the Crown has a duty to consult in a meaningful way with First Nations, Métis communities and other Aboriginal communities where a decision or action of the Crown may infringe on, or adversely affect the exercise of, the aboriginal or treaty rights of that community or its members.  

The Government anticipates that two principal provincial decisions will be required for the proposed Bipole III project:  (1) a class 3 licence under The Environment Act; and (2) an authorization for the use and occupancy of Crown land for a portion of the route of the transmission line.

At the present time, Manitoba Hydro is still working on its Bipole III West Site Selection and Environmental Assessment process, as well as proponent engagement process with potentially-affected communities and the public at large.

As such, the Government of Manitoba has not yet initiated its Crown-Aboriginal consultation process about the proposed Bipole III project.  We anticipate initiating Crown-Aboriginal consultation related to the project in conjunction with Manitoba Hydro determining its preferred route for the project and completion of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the project, which will be necessary to assess project impacts, including potential adverse effects on the exercise of Aboriginal and treaty rights.  Manitoba Hydro advises that it expects to determine a preferred route for Bipole III in late 2010, followed by submission of the project EIS in 2011.

Based on Manitoba Hydro’s current project timelines, the Manitoba Government expects to initiate a Crown-Aboriginal consultation process for the project before the end of the year.  Potentially affected communities will be contacted with details of the Government’s approach to consultation at that time.  The consultation process will be intended to provide an opportunity for those communities to advise Government representatives of any issues and concerns about potential effects of the project on the exercise of Aboriginal or treaty rights and to consider potential measures to address those concerns before Government decisions to authorize the project are made.