Note pour la période des questions : Projets de mine de charbon Vista de Coalspur et politique sur le charbon

Projets de mine de charbon Vista de Coalspur et politique sur le charbon

• La Loi sur l’évaluation d’impact est conçue pour protéger l’environnement, veiller à ce que les projets durables puissent aller de l’avant en toute sécurité et rétablir la confiance du public dans la façon dont le gouvernement fédéral prend ses décisions sur les grands projets de ressources.
• Le 29 septembre 2021, les projets de mine de charbon souterraine Vista et d’agrandissement de la phase II ont été désignés en vertu de la Loi sur l’évaluation d’impact. Dans le cadre de ce processus, le Canada s'est engagé auprès de plus de 40 groupes autochtones, dont la Nation crie d'Ermineskin, afin de s'assurer que leurs points de vue et leurs perspectives soient pris en compte.
• Le promoteur devra soumettre une description de projet initiale qui débutera la phase de planification sous la Loi sur l’évaluation d’impact.
• Notre gouvernement défend le décret de désignation initial et, le 29 septembre 2021, il a déposé un avis d’appel de la décision Ermineskin auprès de la Cour d’appel fédérale.
• Le gouvernement du Canada s’en tient également à sa déclaration sur le charbon thermique de juin 2021, selon laquelle tout nouveau projet d’exploitation de charbon thermique, ou tout agrandissement des mines de charbon thermique existantes au Canada est susceptible d’entraîner des effets inacceptables sur l’environnement.

Vista Coal Projects
• Coalspur Mines (Operations) Ltd. (the Proponent) is proposing the Phase I Vista Coal Underground Mine Project (underground expansion to the existing thermal coal mine) and the Vista Coal Mine Phase II Expansion Project (westward surface expansion from the existing mine project) (the Projects) for the extraction and export of thermal coal located near Hinton, Alberta.
• Under section 9 of the Impact Assessment Act (the Act), the Minister of Environment and Climate Change (the Minister) has the discretionary authority to designate physical activities (projects) not identified in the Physical Activities Regulations. In 2019, the Phase II Expansion Project was considered for designation; it was not designated at that time. In May 2020, new designation requests were received after the Proponent filed a new application with the Alberta Energy Regulator for the Vista Coal Underground Mine. The Minister also reconsidered the Phase II Expansion, and on July 30, 2020, he determined that the Vista Coal Underground Mine, as well as the Phase II Expansion warrant designation pursuant to subsection 9(1) of the Act.
• Two applications for judicial review were filed regarding the July 2020 Order designating the Projects: on August 28, 2020, by the Proponent, and on August 31, 2020, by Ermineskin Cree Nation.
• On June 11, 2021, the Minister issued a notice to the Proponent under section 17 of the Act that he is of the opinion that it is clear that the physical activities would cause unacceptable environmental effects within federal jurisdiction.
• On July 19, 2021, the Federal Court granted the application for judicial review filed by Ermineskin Cree Nation on the basis of failure to consult, set aside the designation Order, and remanded the matter for reconsideration. Because the designation Order was set aside, the Court deemed Coalspur Mines Ltd.’s judicial application moot and therefore dismissed it. On September 29, 2021, Canada filed a Notice of Appeal in the Ermineskin matter with the Federal Appeal Court. On October 1, Coalspur Mines Ltd. also filed a Notice to Appeal. It is anticipated that the hearing of the appeals may take place in the spring of 2022.
• In order to comply with the Federal Court decision, the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (the Agency) undertook a reconsideration process from August to September 2021, including significant engagement with Ermineskin First Nation.
• On September 29, 2021, the Minister determined that the Projects warrant designation. Reasons included direct and cumulative effects to fish and fish habitat, including fish species at risk, and impacts to Indigenous peoples and their rights.
• On October 28, 2021, the Proponent, Ermineskin Cree Nation and Whitefish (Goodfish) Lake First Nation filed three separate applications for judicial review of the Minister’s September 2021 designation Order designating the Projects, following the reconsideration process.
• As a next step, the Proponent will be required to submit an Initial Project Description to the Agency, thereby commencing the planning phase under the Act.
COAL POLICY
• On June 11, 2021, the Government of Canada announced its Policy Statement on future thermal coal mining projects and project expansions. The Policy states that new thermal coal mining projects or expansions are likely to cause unacceptable environmental effects within federal jurisdiction and are not aligned with Canada’s domestic and international climate change commitments.
• In addition, any new and expanded coal mine that is not already described in the Physical Activities Regulations and that has the potential to release deleterious substances like selenium into water bodies will be considered for designation by the Minister for entry into the impact assessment process. These reviews will assess potential impacts of selenium discharge, in particular on fish and fish habitat and the specific receiving environment in question.

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