Environmental Process Modernization Plan (EPMP)

Pacific Region
ENGO and Conservation Groups / DFO Workshop
Managing Fish Habitat

February 7, 2008 - Update from the November DFO-ENGO Workshop in Ottawa

You can find all the DFO and ENGO presentations from the Workshop, along with links to MOUs and other DFO documents, on the RCEN Website at this page, (scroll down).

A draft Workshop Report is currently under review by the Coordinating Committee and will be circulated to all participants shortly.

Paul Sproat Letter of February 15, 2007

March 12-14 2007

Workshop Objectives

To bring together the ENGO and fish habitat stewardship groups in British Columbia and the Yukon to discuss how Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) intends to improve the way in which it manages fish habitat, through implementation of the Environmental Processes Modernization Plan (EPMP).

Outputs of Workshop

• A wide range of issues of concern are expressed by the community and documented in an issue paper for future reference and follow-up action
• A workshop report is developed that addresses the highest priority issues contained in the paper (above), contains a list of recommendations that identifies opportunities to improve habitat management policy and the way it is implemented, plus ways the ENGO and fish habitat stewardship community (Community) can work better together with DFO towards these objectives.

Outcomes of Workshop

• Habitat stakeholders have a better understanding of how DFO intends to manage fish habitat through the Environmental Processes Modernization Plan.
• DFO better understands the concerns of the Community in this area.
• DFO and the Community identify opportunities to collaborate in order to achieve their mutual objectives.
• DFO and the Community identify ways and means of working together (better) to achieve mutual objectives.
• The workshop report is presented to senior decision-makers within the department.
• The workshop report is circulated through the Community.

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Design Parameters

1. The workshop will be 2 full days in length, including an evening reception prior to Day One (12 March 2007).
2. March 13-14 are agreed as the dates for the workshop.
3. Up to 30 members of the Community will participate.
4. DFO officials will attend and actively participate.
5. The event will be held in the lower mainland area.
6. An Organizing Team of 4-6 Community members and DFO members will guide the planning and undertake to organize the workshop collaboratively.
7. DFO will establish a budget and collaboratively manage the event with the Organizing Team (OT).

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Proposed Approach

1. A preliminary issue paper will be developed by the OT to scope the range of Community concerns in this area.
2. The paper will be distributed to the Community at large for commentary and to identify the highest priorities.
3. The agenda for the workshop will be developed based upon the highest priorities contained within the issue paper, with input from all members of the OT.

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Conceptual Design

1. The agenda will focus on EPMP implementation and any related issues that were identified within the issue paper.
2. The workshop will start on the evening of 12 March with a casual reception and discussion about the agenda and approach for the workshop.
3. The workshop format is “plenary”. That is all participants meeting and working together. Three issues will be discussed (more if time permits).
4. The approach to addressing each issue is:
   1. DFO provides “issues overview”, i.e. definition, current situation and planned policy, regulatory and program changes
   2. The Community provides an “issue assessment”, i.e. how does that translate into impact on the ground, what effect it is having on fish and habitat, what’s not working the way it should
   3. The group establishes common Community / DFO objectives within this issues area, including: measurable outcomes over a one, two and three year planning horizon, what actions are needed to yield real improvements, how can the Community and DFO work better together
   4. The Community develops consensus recommendations in real time for DFO, with commentary by DFO participants to help contextualize and refine each set of recommendations
5. Consensus recommendations are the objective of the workshop. Consensus is defined as: all parties are prepared to use the recommendations going forward as a starting place to develop solutions
6. The three issues to be addressed include:
   1. Is there sound / valid science as a basis for EPMP, if so what is it, where are the gaps and what needs to be done?
   2. How will EPMP improve the department’s ability to Monitor, Assess and Manage Cumulative Effects in order to avoid significantly negative impacts?
   3. How will EPMP increase compliance, monitoring and follow-up activities for development projects
7. If consensus can not be reached or if more work is required to refine the wording of recommendations the group can choose to create a task team to resolve the impasse. This group of 3-4 people would volunteer and be accepted by the group to work “off line” to complete the wording for recommendations or commentary going forward.
8. It is acknowledged that participants must come to the workshop prepared, they must know about the key issues in order to know that what is being proposed fits within the requirements.

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