Land Use Planning - East Side Planning Initiative

East Side of Lake Winnipeg East Side Protected Areas The East Side Planning Initiative
Round Table Terms of Reference

The East Side Planning Initiative

The East Side Round Table has been commissioned by Manitoba Conservation to bring forward recommendations for a large area land use plan for the East Side of Lake Winnipeg. A final recommended plan is to be completed and submitted to the Conservation Minister by June 2004. According to its Terms of Reference, the Round Table will advise the government on the establishment of land use zones within the East Side region based on the following fundamental principles:

Maintaining the ecological integrity and biological functions of the boreal forest within the planning area.
Respecting and advancing the social, economic, cultural and traditional needs of First Nations, Metis and other communities located within the planning area.
Recognizing, affirming and be in compliance with treaty obligations and Aboriginal rights.

The East Side Planning Initiative has been divided into two phases: Phase One: Preliminary discussions Phase Two: Plan preparation and adoption

Phase One is complete. Government information on Phase One includes draft reports, final reports, and terms of reference. In addition to these reports, environmental organizations submitted a response to the draft of the government’s Phase One report.

Environmental Organizations Response to Draft Phase One Report

Download East Side Planning Initiative – Draft Phase One Report – Comments from three Environmental Organizations (RTF 907KB)

Download Environmental Organizations’ Essential Elements for a valid East Side Land Use Planning Process (RTF 29KB) Phase One concluded with the release of the Phase One Final Report and Executive Summary. They can also be accessed on the Government of Manitoba web site. This report contains further responses from environmental organizations and communities.

The government web site for the East Side Planning Initiative.
Public registry file #4718.00 contains documents that have been filed to date. For public registry locations go here.
These two sources do not contain the same documents.

East Side Planning Initiative Evaluation

The Canadian Nature Federation has commissioned a review of the Manitoba East Side Planning Initiative process. Posted below is an evaluation of this process with respect to the Canadian National Round Table on the Environment publication, Building Consensus for a Sustainable Future: Guiding Principles.

Download Evaluation: ESLWPI And NRTEE (DOC 34KB)

East Side Planning Initiative Groups

There are several groups participating in the East Side Planning Initiative (ESPI); each have a role and responsibilities within the process.

The ESPI Round Table is comprised of representatives of affected local, Aboriginal, and First Nations communities; a Trappers Association; one Conservation Organization; the Manitoba Mining Association; a Forestry company; a model forest; the Manitoba Métis Federation; Academia, and northern community councils. The Round Table is chaired by Mr. Phil Fontaine, who is the Assembly of National Chiefs elected Grand Chief, and the Associate Chair is Mr. Ed Wood of South Indian Lake territory. Former Manitoba Premier, Honourable Edward Schreyer, is a Special Advisor to the Table. The role of the ESPI table is to collect information, undertake research, and communicate with the First Nation Council, the Stakeholder Advisory Committee, and communities regarding the vision, goals, objectives, and issues for the plan. The Round Table is also to direct and provide recommendations to the ESPI Secretariat in the preparation, content and implementation of a draft plan.
A First Nations Council of a representative from each of the First Nations in the planning area is to provide direction to the Round Table in the area of conducting public meetings and consultation, the goals, objectives, values for the plan, options for addressing issues, integration of community land use plans, and the inclusion of traditional knowledge.
A Stakeholder Advisory Committee comprised of social, environmental, community, recreational, and tourism groups, plus industry provides input to the planning table in the area of conducting public meetings and consultation, the goals, objectives, values for the plan, options for addressing issues, etc.
An interdepartmental working group of deputy and assistant deputy ministers from government departments with responsibilities pertaining to public land use support the planning table; acts as in-house consultants by providing planning, resource and policy advice and information to the ESPI participants and the secretariat.
A secretariat of government staff and contractors, including a project manager assists with organization, logistics, and information management in support of the ESPI table and both advisory groups and the working groups. It is the responsibility of the Secretariat and the table members to ensure that the goals, objectives and terms of reference for the ESPI are upheld.
Three Working Groups - Southern Region, Central Region, and Northern Region - have also been formed to critically examine issues from a regional perspective. Working group membership is comprised of representatives from each of the three main ESPI bodies (the Planning Table, First Nation Council, Stakeholder Advisory Committee).

Currently, as of March 2004, significant gaps in access to information, exchange of information on a transparent basis between the EPSI bodies and among citizen participants exist.

2002-2004