Description
The two-day Working in and About Water – Legislation, Regulations and Responsibilities course is a comprehensive, fully-online training program designed to address a long-time need to clarify the processes, regulations and constraints involved in working in and around water. This applied program includes online presentation, discussion, break-out groups and exercises.
Projects that involve work in or around water can involve numerous considerations at the federal, provincial and municipal level. Federally, the project may involve considerations and/or obligations under the Fisheries Act, Species at Risk Act, Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994, Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, Impact Assessment Act, Canadian Navigable Waters Act, Canadian Wildlife Act, and others. Projects may also be subject to provincial legislation such as, but not limited too, the Water Sustainability Act, Riparian Areas Protection Act and Wildlife Act.
If legal obligations and environmental constraints are considered early in project planning, many projects can avoid lengthy regulatory review processes, apply appropriate avoidance and mitigation measures to eliminate or reduce harmful impacts to the aquatic environment (including fish and fish habitat, species at risk and migratory birds), communicate project designs and concerns effectively and develop appropriate habitat offset (compensation).
Course Outline
Module 1: The Law and Regulatory Process
- Why it is important to understand the law and regulatory process; and,
- Environmental law in Canada (relevant jurisdictions, departments/ministries and legislation).
Module 2: Design and Reporting for Success
- Role and responsibilities of the proponent and the regulator;
- Role of qualified professionals;
- Indigenous peoples & other stakeholders;
- Project considerations (timing, budget, location, communication, transparency);
- Common issues; and,
- Hierarchy of measures and monitoring.
Module 3: Interpreting Project Obligations
- Interpreting Canadian and provincial legal obligations for projects in and around water (Fisheries Act and Water Sustainability Act);
- Interpreting Canadian and provincial legal obligations for projects impacts on wildlife (Species at Risk Act, Migratory Birds Convention Act, Wildlife Act);
- Interpreting Canadian and provincial legal obligations on the release of deleterious substances into the aquatic environment (Fisheries Act, Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999; Environmental Management Act);
- Interpreting Canadian legal obligations on the protection of navigable waters (Canadian Navigable Waters Act);
- Interpreting and applying policy;
- Application of permits, approvals and other authorizations to avoid contravening regulatory requirements; and,
- Process of application review by regulatory bodies (including time limits).
Throughout the course, scenarios, case studies and examples will be provided and discussed.
Each NRTG course includes free, lifetime admission. Enrol once – come back anytime.
Outcomes
Upon successful completion, participants will be able to:
- Interpret and discuss current Canadian and British Columbia legislation, regulation and policies;
- Interpret recent changes to legislation and regulation;
- Apply current regulatory frameworks for individual projects of all sizes;
- Critically assess potential project risks, requirements and regulatory obligations;
- Recognize potential project constraints, including fish and fish habitat, streams, species at risk, migratory birds and navigable waters;
- Plan projects to avoid and mitigate harmful impacts to the aquatic environment;
- Identify and contrast roles and responsibilities (professionally and ethically) of proponents, qualified professionals, regulators, Indigenous peoples and other stakeholders in conducting and reviewing projects in or about water;
- Understand how projects are reviewed by regulatory bodies (e.g. Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada);
- Complete and submit applications for permits, approvals and other authorizations to regulatory bodies successfully; and,
- Develop and discuss methods and approaches to avoid typical issues and errors that can result in time, cost and potential litigation.
Who enrols in the Working in and About Water course?
The course is directed at Intermediate and Senior staff that manage projects, people and programs. Course participants typically include: government and First Nations representatives and professionals, ecology and biology professionals, natural resource and industry consultants and stakeholders.
Pre-requisites
There are no formal prerequisites. This course involves examples and discussions regarding regulatory process, project obligations and individual responsibilities throughout project development. Both experienced and non-experienced participants will learn from the discussions. Participants are encouraged to being their own projects and issues into the classroom for discussion.
What should I bring?
This course is classroom-based and does not include a field training component. Participants are required to bring/supply their own laptop, writing pad, pen/pencils and refreshments (lunch is not provided).
For further information, please contact NRTG.
How do I Attend?
This course is available via our website Schedule Page, or on contract to organizations/community groups. Beginning in 2020, the Working in and About Water – Legislation, Regulations and Responsibilities course will be scheduled for community-based deliveries throughout the year. Interested groups or organizations can also arrange for an ‘in-house’ or contract delivery of this course. In either scenario, contact NRTG for further information.
If you would like to have this course delivered to your group or community, please consider the following:
- Contact us well in advance of your preferred course start date
- If applicable, secure program funding
- Recruit course participants (most NRTG courses have minimum enrollments of 10-12 participants)
- Coordinate course participant equipment, classroom facility, and contractual agreement with NRTG.
Check our course Schedule page for upcoming course deliveries.
Frequently Asked Questions
We offer this online course year-round. Please refer to our Schedule page for course timing and locations.
The two-day fully online Working in and About Water – Legislation, Regulations and Responsibilities course is a comprehensive, fully-online training program designed to address a long-time need to clarify the processes, regulations and constraints involved in working in and around water. This applied program includes online presentation, discussion, break-out groups and exercises.
Computer and internet access, as well as writing utensils and paper.
This course is directed at Intermediate and Senior staff that manage projects, people and programs. Course participants typically include government and First Nations representatives and professionals, ecology and biology professionals, natural resource and industry consultants and stakeholders.