British Columbia Building Canada Act Dialogue Session: Implications for Environmental Impact Assessments and First Nations Rights
– February 17, 2026
Welcome, Opening Remarks, Prayer and Context Setting
BLOCK 1: IAAC and MPO Presentations
Presentation 1: Candace Anderson, Director of Indigenous Consultation, MPO Implementing the Building Canada Act – Identifying and Advancing Nationally Significant Major Projects
IAAC and MPO Presentations
Presentation 2: Regina Wright, Director General of Operations-West, IAAC Re-engineering the Impact Assessment Process: A Two Year Approach
IAAC and MPO Presentations:
Q & A/Discussion
Break
BLOCK 2 – Cooperation Agreements with Provinces – BC Case
Presentation 3: Tara Frezza, Director of Policy Integration, IAAC Approach to ‘One Project One Review’ in the BC context
Cooperation Agreements with Provinces – BC Case
Presentation 4: Chief Roger William, Xeni Gwet’in First Nation and Cynthia
Fell, Resource Management Coordinator, Tŝilhqot’in National Government
Sharing Reflections on the Tŝilhqot’in Nation’s Experience
Cooperation Agreements with Provinces – BC Case
Presentation 5: Jesse McCormick, Pape Salter Teillet LLP
Accelerating Project Assessments: Implications for First Nations
Cooperation Agreements with Provinces – BC Case
Q&A /Discussion
Closing