Ottawa, November 10, 2008 - The panel mandated to review Hydro-Québec's Romaine Hydroelectric Complex Project will be holding the second part of the public hearing starting December 1, 2008. A live audio broadcast of the sessions will be available on the BAPE Web site at www.bape.gouv.qc.ca. Simultaneous interpretation into Innu language will be available on site. Those interested in remotely presenting their brief to the panel verbally, will have access to a telephone line during the Sept-Îles sessions starting December 9, 2008.
This part of the hearing will be exclusively for hearing all interested persons, municipalities, organizations and groups wishing to express their views on the project in the form of either a written brief or an oral presentation
When and where will the sessions be held:
- Monday, December 1, 2008
7:30 p.m. - Ekuanitshit community hall
34 Manitou Street, Mingan
- Beginning Tuesday, December 2, 2008
7:00 p.m. - Denis Perron arena community hall
1028 Des Fondateurs
Havre-Saint-Pierre
- Beginning Tuesday, December 9, 2008
7:00 p.m. - Place de Ville
Sept-Îles
The sessions will continue on the following days, as required by the public and the panel.
How to prepare a brief
A brief is a document that presents the author's opinions or concerns about a given subject. It allows the author to develop and state the arguments in support of this opinion.
As a rule, a brief contains the following elements: a short presentation of the individual, group, organization or municipality tabling the brief; a short explanation of this party's interest in the project; opinions on the project as a whole; concerns about the project; and, where applicable, suggestions and comments to improve the project. Parties who decide not to prepare a brief may express their opinion orally at the public hearing. An oral presentation may be developed in the same way as a brief.
Advice is provided, for information purposes only, in the form of questions in the document, Writing a Brief, which is available on request, as well as in electronic format at www.bape.gouv.qc.ca under the heading "How to Participate."
Submitting a brief
In order to facilitate the planning of the public hearings, all those interested in presenting a brief or making an oral presentation at the hearing in person or via telephone are asked to inform the coordinator of the panel secretariat, Ms. Monique Gélinas, at 418-643-7447, ext. 423, or toll-free at 1-800-463-4732, before November 14, 2008.
Written briefs clearly identifying the project must be sent to the BAPE secretariat, prior to the public hearing, no later than November 27, 2008, in order to give the panel an opportunity to examine them. Briefs may be sent to 575 Saint-Amable Street, Office 2.10, Quebec City QC G1R 6A6, to the attention of Ms. Monique Gélinas. To protect yourself and because the brief will be made public, we ask that you provide your contact information on a separate page. A brief sent without this information cannot be considered by the panel. Under the Privacy Act, the BAPE must ensure the protection of personal information provided.
Briefs can also be submitted by e-mail to romaine@bape.gouv.qc.ca, with an original copy to follow by mail. Briefs will be available on the BAPE and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency Web site as soon as they are made public by the panel.
Consulting Documents on the Project
Documentation on the project and the transcripts of the first part of the hearing may be viewed at the following regional locations:
- Municipality of Havre-Saint-Pierre, 1235 De la Digue Street, Havre-Saint-Pierre;
- Louis-Ange-Santerre Library, 500 Jolliet Avenue, Sept-Îles;
- Ekuanitshit Innu Council, 35 Manitou Street, Mingan;
- Nutashkuan Innu Council, 78 Mashkush Street, Natashquan;
- Unamen Shipu Innu Council, 90 Du Large Street, La Romaine;
- Pakua Shipu Innu Council, 6 Innu Street, Pakua Shipu.
The entire file is also available in Quebec City at the BAPE office, 575 Saint-Amable Street, Office 2.10; at the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency Office, 1141 Route de l'Église, 2nd floor; and in Montreal at the UQAM central library, Pavillon Hubert-Aquin, 1255 Saint-Denis Street, Room A-M100. You may also visit the BAPE Web site regarding the project, at www.bape.gouv.qc.ca, and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Registry, at www.acee-ceaa.gc.ca, reference number 04-05-2613.
Public Participation is Essential!
Public participation is essential for the panel. It makes it possible to hear the participants' arguments, opinions and suggestions before writing the report that will be submitted, no later than February 27, 2009, to both Canada's Environment Minister, Mr. Jim Prentice and Quebec's Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks, Ms. Line Beauchamp.
For additional information, please contact Ms. Monique Gélinas at 418-643-7447, ext. 423, or toll-free at 1-800-463-4732, or send an e-mail to romaine@bape.gouv.qc.ca. You may also contact Ms. Maryse Pineau at 613-948-1364 or send an e-mail to maryse.pineau@ceaa-acee.gc.ca.
Nicholas Girard
Senior Communications Advisor
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
Tel.: 613-957-0958
Danielle Hawey
Communications Advisor
Bureau d'audiences publiques sur l'environnement
Tel.: 418-643-7447 or 1-800-463-4732 ext. 533
