Public Participation Plan
Impact Assessment of the Suncor Base Mine Extension project
Document Reference Number: 138
May 31, 2021
1. Introduction
Public participation is an essential part of an open, informed and meaningful impact assessment. The Government of Canada is committed to providing the public with the opportunity to participate meaningfully in the process and to provide the public with the information needed to participate in an informed way.
On August 7, 2020, the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (the Agency) determined that an impact assessment is required for the Suncor Base Mine Extension Project (the Project), pursuant to the Impact Assessment Act (the Act). On January 28, 2021, the Agency announced that the impact assessment of the Project was referred to an independent review panel.
The Act requires the development of a Public Participation Plan during the Planning Phase for all projects subject to an impact assessment. This Plan is developed by the Agency to set out opportunities for participation during the impact assessment process, and is designed to provide proponents and participants with certainty about how and when public participation will occur. It is also intended to be flexible and does not preclude the Agency or the Review Panel from making changes to the approaches described in this Plan in order to accommodate changes that may occur during the assessment.
For additional information about the implementation of meaningful public participation, please refer to the Interim Policy Context for Public Participation in Impact Assessment and Guidance: Public Participation under the Impact Assessment Act.
A distinct and separate Indigenous Engagement and Partnership Plan is also available, outlining Indigenous engagement opportunities and approaches.
2. Description of the proposed project
Suncor Energy Inc. (the proponent) is proposing to develop the Project to sustain the supply of bitumen to the existing upgraders at the proponent's Oil Sands Base Plant operation (Base Plant). The Project includes an open pit mining operation and associated infrastructure that is required to supply oil sands to new bitumen froth production facilities and deliver bitumen froth by pipeline to the existing Base Plant facilities where further processing occurs, including upgrading into various product blends for market. The Project would be located adjacent to existing Base Plant operations, approximately three kilometres north of Fort McMurray, Alberta, within the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo. If approved, Project construction is expected to start in 2026 and the footprint is anticipated to be approximately 30,000 hectares.
For more information on the impact assessment of the Suncor Base Mine Extension Project or to view the information and comments received, visit the Canadian Impact Assessment Registry (the Public Registry) at https://iaac-aeic.gc.ca/050/evaluations/proj/80521?culture=en-CA.
3. Objectives of the Public Participation Plan
The following objectives for public participation are proposed.
- Public participation is meaningful. This means that members of the public who want to take part in the impact assessment:
- have the opportunity to do so,
- have the information they need, and
- have the capacity to participate in an informed manner.
- The public is engaged early and often, particularly at each key stage of the impact assessment process.
- The public is involved in the development or revision of key documents, such as this plan, the Tailored Impact Statement Guidelines, the Review Panel's Terms of Reference and Joint Review Panel Agreement (if applicable), the proponent's Impact Statement, the potential conditions, and potential changes to the Decision Statement.
- Participation opportunities are designed to take into account diverse needs and interests of the public. Opportunities include but are not limited to: public comment periods, the public hearing, and in-person or virtual information sessions or consultation events at key phases of the process.
- Public views heard throughout the process are considered and inform decision making.
4. Distribution list and participants
Throughout the impact assessment process, the Agency and/or the Review Panel's secretariat will develop and maintain a distribution list of participants in the impact assessment. Individuals and organizations on the distribution list will receive updates and notices about the Project's impact assessment as the process unfolds.
If you wish to be on the distribution list, please send an email to IAAC.BaseMine-MineBase.AEIC@canada.ca with your full name and email address.
If you indicated that you would like to be added to the distribution list when you signed in to the online Public Registry or at an information session, you do not need to sign up again.
The following is a list of participants that have indicated an interest to date in participating in the impact assessment of the Project:
- Residents of Fort McMurray and Fort MacKay, Alberta and surrounding area
- Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
- Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society – Northern Alberta Chapter
- Pembina Institute for Appropriate Development
- General public
Please consult the Indigenous Engagement and Partnership Plan for a list of the Indigenous communities that are identified for engagement and partnership as part of the impact assessment of the Project.
The Agency has received comments from Indigenous communities pertaining to the participation of the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board (the Board) in the impact assessment of the Project, and is currently in discussion with the Board to determine how the Board will be best engaged in the impact assessment.
5. Public Participation Tools
In order to ensure meaningful public participation during the impact assessment process, the following communication and participation tools will be used:
- public notices posted on the Public Registry, published in newspapers and broadcast on the radio and news website ads;
- emails to the distribution list;
- social media updates (e.g. the Agency's Twitter Feed);
- interactive community and information sessions (in-person or virtual presentations, with questions and answers);
- printed copies of key documents held in viewing centres, if requested;
- direct mailing;
- training on the impact assessment process and how to effectively participate, available by e-learning and on demand (if requested);
- public comment periods to gather participants' input on key documents;
- technical workshops;
- public hearing held by the Review Panel; and
- other tools based on input from the public during the impact assessment process, or as determined by the Review Panel.
The Agency will ensure that documents posted to the Public Registry will allow the content to be read aloud by a screen reader so that they are accessible to visually impaired people. The Agency will also encourage the Proponent to adopt this practice.
Participation opportunities and associated tools are explained in more detail in Table 1 below.
6. Activities and public participation approaches
The following table provides a description of the main phases in the impact assessment process, and an outline of engagement opportunities in each phase, including events led by the Agency or the Review Panel. The table describes the objectives of each phase, the anticipated engagement activities, and applicable timelines.
The objectives of the Public Participation Plan will be considered for incorporation into the Review Panel's Terms of Reference. The Review Panel will select engagement activities that align with any rules or procedures it develops or adopts.
Objectives of the Phase |
Expected Activities |
Public Participation Tools |
Timelines |
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Phase 1: Planning |
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Phase 2: Impact Statement |
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* If the Review Panel is appointed during the Impact Statement Phase, the Review Panel may lead public participation activities. |
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Phase 3: Impact Assessment |
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Part 2 – Following the submission of the Review Panel's impact assessment report |
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Phase 4: Decision Making |
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Phase 5 – Post Decision |
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7. Participant funding
Funding to support public participation is available. For information about the activities that are eligible for funding or to apply for funding please see the Funding Program and application forms on the following page https://www.canada.ca/en/impact-assessment-agency/services/public-participation/funding-programs.html.
Please note that funding opportunities for subsequent phases will be advertised as they become available.
8. Contact information
Comments may be submitted at any time during the process by using the "Submit a comment" feature on the Project's page on the Public Registry (reference number 80521, at https://iaac-aeic.gc.ca/050/evaluations/proj/80521?culture=en-CA. Attachments can be uploaded using this feature.
If you have any difficulties with the submission process, please contact the Agency or the Review Panel's secretariat (following the establishment of the Review Panel), using the contact information below. Comments may also be submitted by email to IAAC.BaseMine-MineBase.AEIC@canada.ca or by regular mail.
Comments and other documents received by the Agency or Review Panel will form part of the Project record and will be posted on the Canadian Impact Assessment Registry website. The Agency's Submission Policy determines what information can be shared publicly and what information should remain private. For more information on how we protect your privacy, please refer to the Agency's Privacy Notice. If you do not want your comment to be posted on the Public Registry, please contact the Agency before submitting your comment.
If you have questions or need information, please contact:
Impact Assessment Agency of Canada – Suncor Base Mine Extension Project
160 Elgin Street, 22nd Floor, Ottawa ON K1A 0H3
Tel.: 343-549-5813
Email: IAAC.BaseMine-MineBase.AEIC@canada.ca