Engagement
The NEB engages with stakeholders and Indigenous Peoples on topics within the NEB’s mandate and role, beyond engagement on specific projects.
Our Commitment
Stakeholders and Indigenous Peoples share their perspectives and provide feedback regarding the NEB mandate and role and NEB engagement activities with stakeholders and Indigenous Peoples are meaningful.
We firmly believe that the best way to prevent harm, keep Canadians safe, protect the environment, and prevent market inefficiencies is to listen to what people have to say so that we can make informed decisions and recommendations in the public interest.
In 2017-18, the NEB led the establishment of a Municipal Roundtable, with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) and Canadian Energy Pipeline Association (CEPA). The goal of the Roundtable is to identify areas of common concern related to pipeline operations or activities, and find solutions that can be applied across the entire country. The NEB also renewed its commitment to the long-standing Land Matters Group (LMG), broadening the scope of the LMG’s work to issues-focused activities in areas of common concern to all landowners.
An increased emphasis on engagement also reflects a new relationship between the NEB and Indigenous Peoples, based on recognition of rights, respect, co-operation, and partnership. Engagement allows the NEB to learn and pursue continuous improvement as a result of exposure to a broader base of input, views and perspectives. The goal of our NEB wide engagement activities is to ensure that feedback provided by stakeholders and Indigenous Peoples inform our decisions and our work.
Engagement Activity in 2017-18:
-
319 Engagement Events -
4,270 Participants in NEB Engagement Programs -
Cultural Awareness training by Indigenous trainers provided to 164 staff
Engagement
Number of participants in NEB engagement programs, to track how NEB Engagement is expanding, and where and with whom we target our engagement effort.
- Target 600
- Results
2016-17 723 - Results
2017-18 4,270
Our engagement program activities have been very well-subscribed, and we significantly exceeded our targets in this area in 2017-18. In addition to changing the target for 2017-18 to better reflect our experience in this area, we will also continue to refine and adjust our outreach activities to ensure they are meeting the needs of the communities we serve. In 2017-18, we conducted significant outreach activity led through our regional offices in Yellowknife, Vancouver and Montreal – in addition to the outreach that we supported all over Canada as part of our engagement programs.
Percentage of surveyed stakeholders who engaged with the NEB who indicate that the engagement was meaningful.
- Target 75%
- Results
2016-17 No Results - Results
2017-18 76%
While pleased with the survey feedback, we know that there is more to be done. We have developed new approaches, and enhanced our engagement activities, and we need to ensure we mature these processes by clarifying our focus and intended results. A critical aspect of this will be to fully incorporate feedback and engagement data into a cycle of continuous improvement in the way we engage. In addition, we will sustain the efforts already underway to build internal capacity in public engagement and in particular, Indigenous Cultural training. We are not engaging for its own sake; we are engaging Canadians with the aim of ensuring it is meaningful to them – that there is an impact for their efforts, and appropriate action is taken when feedback is provided.
Percentage of surveyed Indigenous Peoples who engaged with the NEB
who indicate that the engagement was meaningful.
- Target 75%
- Results
2016-17 No Results - Results
2017-18 80%
Working with Indigenous Peoples is very important to the NEB. While survey feedback in 2017-18 was positive, we know there is more to be done – particularly with respect to how we work with Indigenous communities in our regulatory oversight of major project construction on the TMEP and Line 3 projects.23
Key Feedback from Engagement Surveys - Where to focus moving forward:
- Land Matters Group Stakeholders would like broader participation in LMG, and improved processes to drive efficiency and focus.
- Montreal Regional stakeholders felt more feedback is required on issues raised, and more engagement in project reviews.
- Vancouver Regional Stakeholders requested more in-depth engagement and more transparent, detailed information on aspects of the TMEP.
- Indigenous Peoples requested more cultural understanding from government and transparency when working with Indigenous communities.
Using Feedback to Drive Change
We are changing how we engage with Canadians. As a part of this, we are doing more to capture feedback from stakeholders and Indigenous Peoples. We do this in order to build and maintain relationships, and to enhance future engagement activities.
The NEB sees the increasing importance of finding better ways to share and apply feedback broadly across all of the NEB’s programs, to drive improvements in the way we work. We have undertaken many engagement activities over the past year, all of which have underlined to us the importance of continuing and strengthening this work. The drive to use what we have learned to further develop meaningful engagement will continue to shape our work in the coming year.
IAMCs as a New Way of Working Together
One of the most significant activities for the NEB’s Engagement programs has been supporting the co-development of Indigenous Advisory and Monitoring Committees for the Kinder Morgan, TMEP and Enbridge Line 3 projects. The IAMCs bring together Indigenous and senior federal representatives to provide input and advice to regulators, and to monitor the construction and operation of the projects. Members have a shared goal of safety and protection of environmental and Indigenous interests in the lands and waters.
This initiative represents a foundational change in the way the NEB and the Federal government works with Indigenous Peoples, and aims to develop an enduring and meaningful relationship with those Indigenous communities along the projects’ corridors, for the entire lifecycle of the two projects. The approach and Terms of Reference for the IAMCs were co-developed in an approach formally approved in July 2017.
This Committee provides First Nations and Métis Peoples an historic opportunity to advise the Federal government and regulator on how to best integrate Indigenous principles and interests into the lifecycle oversight of the project. This is a new way of working together for everyone involved and I look forward to continuing in the spirit of collaboration, learning, and joint fact-finding.Joe Daniels, Line 3 IAMC Indigenous Co-Chair
| IAMC co-development by the numbers | TMEP | Line 3 |
| Indigenous communities impacted | 117 | 109 |
| Indigenous communities engaged | ~75% | ~60% |
| Indigenous members on Working Group | 12 | 50 |
| Regional workshops | 8 | 4 |
| Line-wide (whole-of-pipeline route) workshops | 2 | 2 |
Key milestones achieved for IAMCs in 2017-18
- Co-development of Terms of Reference for the TMEP and Line 3 IAMCs Completed
- Indigenous Monitor Pilot Project (IAMC-TMEP) Approved
- IAMC Representatives observed Burnaby Terminal and Jasper Emergency Management Exercises
- Workshop on Fish Spawning Deterrent Mats Issue with TMEP IAMC and Department of Fisheries and Oceans arranged to explain and address issues in real time
Performance Summary for Engagement and Next Year’s Focus:
- While our results are activity-based, they begin to demonstrate the work and reach of our program efforts, as well as their importance. We can now mature the program to focus it more effectively and demonstrate outcomes.
- Feedback is a crucial aspect of the work we do to improve engagement, and we will continue to proactively seek input from surveys and interactions with individuals and groups.
- Our work with the IAMCs has shown us how critical and valuable this work is for effective safety and environmental oversight. Delivering on the IAMC commitments across the NEB requires coordination, planning and resources. This is a new relationship for the NEB and for Indigenous Communities; it is one that we value highly, and are committed to making it successful.