Regional Assessment of St. Lawrence for Better Informed Choices in the Future

In its initial request, the Mohawk Council proposed that the assessment focus on the section of the St. Lawrence stretching from Montréal to Québec City. Other Indigenous communities as well as environmental groups consulted then suggested that the study area be extended to include the Estuary. The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada, which will be responsible for carrying out this regional assessment, has not yet made a decision on which portions of the St. Lawrence will be considered.

According to a letter written by the council of the Innu Essipit First Nation, environmental assessments sometimes come across as being as random as “Groundhog Day”. In recent years, different projects have touched on the same environmental issues and have therefore sparked similar discussions. A regional assessment could avoid some of this redundancy by providing baseline information on recurring concerns, such as the St. Lawrence beluga, as well as necessary mitigation measures.

However, some groups warn that this comprehensive assessment should not serve as an argument to do away with project-specific environmental assessments. Indeed, each project has its particularities, and a regional evaluation cannot replace an in-depth analysis.

The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada is expected to release further details on the form this regional assessment will take by the end of the year.