The proponent may be required to undertake further measures to ensure adequate distribution of information and consultation about the proposed project. At each stage of the review process, the public has guaranteed opportunities to provide comments on projects under review. Requests for assistance are directed to the Executive Director and are reviewed with input from the Project Committee. Funding is provided in accordance with government policy and the availability of resources for participant assistance. A Public Advisory Committee may be established by the Executive Director as needed to assist in the review of a proposed project.
Membership is drawn from local stakeholder groups and interested members of the public.
The Public Advisory Committee is intended as a public forum for the identification and discussion of local issues and concerns about the project. The committee provides advice from a public perspective to the Project Committee, which sets the overall terms of reference for the committee. Where significant issues remain unresolved after the application and project report review stages, the ministers may refer the project to the Environmental Assessment Board for public hearing. Draft terms of reference for the hearing are prepared by the ministers and made available for comment to government agencies, First Nations and the public. Following the hearing, the Environmental Assessment Board makes recommendations to Cabinet as to whether or not the proposed project should receive a project approval certificate.