A resource industry coalition and the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) have been working together to streamline the approval process for certain low-risk development activities.
The National Resource Industry Association (NRIA) comprises seven resource groups: the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada, the Mining Association of Canada, the Canadian Energy Pipeline Association, the Canadian Gas Association, the Canadian Electricity Association, the Forest Products Association of Canada and the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers.
The coalition was established in 2004 to negotiate with the DFO and streamline the approval process for simple projects such as culverts, temporary bridges and winter roads, which are often constructed and used by mining companies.
In October 2004, the two groups signed a memorandum of agreement to work more effectively and efficiently to protect fish and fish habitat in Canada. The agreement also sets out activities common to all sectors and eliminates the need to issue permits for low-impact construction and infrastructure activities.
In addition, the agreement creates an avenue by which resource industries can raise questions about specific applications of the Fisheries Act.
Since October, the agreement has produced a number of important results, including improved communications between industry and the DFO. Information from member companies was also used to develop a risk management framework for fish habitat. In future, the NRIA and the DFO will also discuss management of medium and high-risk activities and increase communications about the initiative, including setting up a website.
— The preceding is an excerpt from In Brief, a quarterly publication of the Toronto-based Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada.
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