Agreement Areas" under the Labrador Innu
Agreement-in-Principle ("EDA").
• The main impact of the EDA designation is to
require any proponent undertaking a "Major
Development" in such areas to enter into an
IBA with the relevant aboriginal group. Otherwise, these EDA's or this EDA fall outside
the LISA and LIL and so the other impacts of
those latter designations will not apply.
Without belabouring the many features of
the final Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement and pending Labrador Innu agreement, it
should be recognized that these agreements will
have many potential impacts for those developing ventures or carrying on business in affected
lands. Depending on where one is located, there
may not only be enhanced aboriginal rights to
consider, including those meriting consultation or IBA obligations, but also an additional
or substituted regulatory process, including
respecting such basic requirements as surface
rights transfers or environmental assessments.
There is no doubt that these additional layers of regulatory complexity may be challenging to navigate and that special care is required
when operating in affected areas. On the other
hand, the Big Land comes with significant opportunities, and so the incentives for taking on
that challenge are substantial.
labrador's business snapshot
• The recently sanctioned $7.7 billion Muskrat Falls
hydroelectric development is expected to generate
many jobs, associated infrastructure and spin-off
businesses
• Brazilian mining giant Vale has committed to
starting underground mining at the world-class
Voisey's Bay mine in the near future
• The recently announced discovery of basins off the
coast of Labrador is a promising sign of potential
offshore oil resources
• There remains a vibrant mining and mineral exploration industry within the region
Learn more at: www.stewartmckelvey.com/BigLand
Colm St. Roch Seviour, partner
st. John's, n.l.
709.570.8847
cseviour@stewartmckelvey.com
Steve Scruton, associate
st. John's, n.l.
709.570.8837
sscruton@stewartmckelvey.com
Stewart Mckelvey proudly celebrates over twenty years of innovative
leadership as atlantic Canada's first and largest regional law firm. With a
distinguished heritage reaching back to Canada's confederation, our law firm
has established an international reputation for generating results. More than
220 lawyers and over 300 staff in our six locations have a single objective:
the best results for our clients.
Charlottetown, p.E.i.
65 grafton St., p.o. Box 2140
Charlottetown, pE C1a 1k8
phone: 902.892.2485 Fax: 902.566.5283
charlottetown@stewartmckelvey.com
Moncton, n.B.
Suite 601, Blue Cross Centre, 644 Main St.
p.o. Box 28051, Moncton, nB E1C 1E2
phone: 506.853.1970 Fax: 506.858.8454
moncton@stewartmckelvey.com
Fredericton, n.B.
Suite 600, Frederick Square, 77 Westmorland St.
p.o. Box 730 Fredericton, nB E3B 6Z3
phone: 506.458.1970 Fax: 506.444.8974
fredericton@stewartmckelvey.com
Saint john, n.B.
Suite 1000, Brunswick house, p.o. Box 7289, postal Station a
44 Chipman hill, Saint john, nB E2l 2a9
phone: 506.632.1970 Fax: 506.652.1989
saint-john@stewartmckelvey.com
halifax, n.S.
Suite 900, purdy's Wharf tower one
1959 Upper Water St., p.o. Box 997, halifax, nS B3j 3n2
phone: 902.420.3200 Fax: 902.420.1417
halifax@stewartmckelvey.com
St. john's, n.l.
Suite 1100, Cabot place, 100 new gower St.
p.o. Box 5038, St. john's, nl a1C 6k3
phone: 709.722.4270 Fax: 709.722.4565
st-johns@stewartmckelvey.com