Question Period Note: Northern Pulp Effluent Treatment Facility Designation Request

Northern Pulp Effluent Treatment Facility Designation Request

• On February 7, 2018, the previous Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada (the Minister) received a request to designate the Project for a federal environmental assessment.
• Following the coming into force of the Impact Assessment Act, the previous Minister directed the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada to consider the designation request under section 9 of the Impact Assessment Act.
• Federal departments are actively supporting the provincial environmental assessment process.
• I have made/will make a decision on whether or not to designate the Project, informed by the analysis from the Agency.

• Northern Pulp Nova Scotia Corporation is proposing to replace the existing Northern Pulp Effluent Treatment Facility, located in Pictou County, Nova Scotia. The Project is required because of the provincial Boat Harbour Act, which will prohibit the use of the existing Boat Harbour Effluent Treatment Facility for the reception and treatment of effluent after January 31, 2020. The Project would entail the construction and operation of a treatment facility adjacent to the Northern Pulp mill and discharge of the treated effluent into the Northumberland Strait.
• Boat Harbour is located adjacent to several reserve lands held by Pictou Landing First Nation. The land and water on which the current facility is located is within territory traditionally used and occupied by the Mi’kmaq of Pictou Landing First Nation.
• The Project is not a designated activity described in the Regulations Designating Physical Activities under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 (CEAA 2012) or the Impact Assessment Act (IAA), that identify the types of projects that may be subject to an assessment.
• However, the Agency received a request from a member of the public on February 7, 2018, for the Minister to designate the Project for a federal environmental assessment. On August 27, 2019, the Minister instructed the Agency to consider the designation request under IAA.
• The Project is subject to an Environmental Assessment by Nova Scotia Environment. The provincial Minister of Environment is expected to make a decision in December 2019.
• Regardless of whether the Project is designated, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Health Canada, Transport Canada, Public Services and Procurement Canada, and Environment and Climate Change Canada are all participating as expert reviewers in the provincial environmental assessment to ensure impacts in areas of federal jurisdiction are considered.
• Additionally, federal departments will likely have future permitting and compliance responsibilities for the Project.

Question Period notes as provided by the Department to the Minister’s Office