The Duty to Consult and Accommodate

The “Duty to Consult and Accommodate” arose from a 2005 Supreme Court ruling. According to the ruling

governments have a legal requirement to consult with First Nations and Métis people when their decisions or activities could potentially impact Treaty or Aboriginal rights.

Click here to read an article on the Duty to Consult from the Chamber’s action! Magazine June 2008 edition. This article provides some background on the situation and outlines the Chamber’s position.

Duty to Consult with First Nations & Metis Questions & Answers-
From the Ministry of Municipal Affairs, 2008

The Government of Saskatchewan’s Interim Guide for Consultation with First Nations and Métis People- January 2008

Environment Canada - A Summary of Trends: 1990-2008

This report onthe Government of Canada website provides a summary of human-induced greenhouse gas emissions from sources and removals by sinks as presented in Canada's National Inventory Report for 2008. This report focuses on long-term comparisons of emissions by sector (1990-2008) and short term increases and decreases.

Click on the following link to be directed to the site:
http://www.ec.gc.ca/ges-ghg/default.asp?lang=En&n=0590640B-1

A New Environmental Management Model and Code for Saskatchewan

The current model for environmental Management in Saskatchewan is based primarily upon a legislative framework of approval requirements, prohibitions and prescriptive regulations.  These operate at Federal, Provincial and Municipal levels.  The age of Provincial legislation ranges from about 10 to 30 years.

There is a need for accelerated harmonization of the requirements, reduction of the duplication of control within and between governments, and a change in the primary allocation and assumption of responsibility for environmental performance.

There is a better model, based on existing methodology for creating standards such as the National Building Code, guidance on environmental management similar to ISO 14001, and legislative regimes like the Income Tax Act, that should be used to resolve this problem. Read the Chamber paper on environmental management models >

Water Management

Below are papers on water legislation in Saskatchewan from the Water Management Workshop at the 8th Prairie Conservation & Endangered Species Conference.

Swimming Against the Current: Water Management in Saskatchewan - this paper looks at the history of the water rights law here, and the options from elsewhere in the world.

A Strong Foundation for Action: The Role of Environmental Rights and Other Fundamental Principles in the Design of Environmental and Resource Management Legislation - this paper looks at various 'environmental princliples' underlying legislation.

Ideal Water Legislation for Saskatchewan - this paper overviews the federal and provincial legislation with a perspective on what needs to be addressed to implement a new environmental managment model.