Balancing Act – COMEX president Suzann Méthot on compromise between environment and economy

The Comité d’examen des repercussions sur l’environnement et le milieu social (Environmental and Social Impact Review Committee in English) was given its mandate in accordance with Chapter 22 of the James Bay Northern Quebec Agreement (JBNQA) first established in the 1970s.

Better known as COMEX, the committee is responsible for evaluating potential developments that would have a significant impact on the land and population of northern Quebec, specifically on the territory south of the 55th parallel (plus the territory of Whapmagoostui which lies slightly above) and west of the 69th meridian.

COMEX is a recommending body that gathers information, works with scientific experts to conduct impact assessments, organizes public hearings and looks at all angles of proposed development in the territory covered by the JBNQA. One often hears the name come up when developments are contested by the communities they affect, such as the recently proposed access roads in the Broadback River Valley region near Waswanipi.

The guiding principles laid out in Chapter 22 of the JBNQA are the framework under which COMEX operates and decides whether or not to recommend a project for approval and if it should be permitted, under what conditions. In the case of the Broadback access roads, the routes were recommended for approval but with several conditions.

“We recommended that the project be shortened by several kilometres; we recommended a plan for re-establishing the caribou population and plenty of other recommendations as well,” noted Suzann Méthot, the new COMEX President. “I think [with the Waswanipi report] we heard all voices, stayed independent and transparent, took all interests into account, consulted the latest scientific data and ensured the protection of the caribou population.

COMEX recommendations are passed on to the Environment Minister, Méthot added. If they are approved, which is usually the case, the Ministry then issues a certificate of authorization. COMEX also coordinates with regional governmental authorities who organize visits to work sites to ensure conditions are being met.

“But most importantly, we give power to the population, the power to be part of the decision-making,” Méthot emphasized. “It’s not the only place [the public can participate] but it’s a very critical place. The population can express their concerns, their interests, their opinions and ask questions that either we can answer or the promoter will have to answer. We give the public the ability to express themselves, to be heard and to be taken seriously.”

According to Méthot, the first step to having your voice heard regarding a potential development is to be aware of what’s going in your area by staying in touch with band councils, following information from the Grand Council of the Crees (GCC) and consulting the COMEX website (www.comexqc.ca), which is regularly updated to announce projects up for assessment.

“After we hear all opinions, the committee sits down and analyzes everything,” she said. “Does [the project] meet the interests of the population? Does it meet what is understood under the convention of Chapter 22? Does it meet with the principles of the framework under which we are working? Then the committee will recommend or not recommend [a project], or recommend it under certain conditions.”

COMEX consists of five members including the president, with two appointed by the Cree Nation – lawyer John Paul Murdoch and long-time anthropologist and environmentalist Brian Craik – plus two members appointed by Quebec – biologists Daniel Berrouard and Robert Joly.

Up next for review is another series of proposed access roads that will affect the communities of Waswanipi, Oujé-Bougoumou and Mistissini. Méthot says the COMEX committee has already determined that the scale of the project will require a public hearing.

Asked about the approach her team takes in conducting assessments and delivering recommendations, Méthot says that the guiding principles outlined in Chapter 22 of the JBNQA are the starting point for everything they do.

“It involves everything that concerns continuing the traditional way of life, exercising territorial rights around hunting, trapping, fishing,” she explained. “Everything that touches the people’s rights and desire to pursue their cultural lifestyle, also allowing them to be involved in the decision-making process and making sure the development benefits the Cree.

“Our approach is a pragmatic one. We make sure we have that traditional knowledge and incorporate the Cree knowledge of the territory and then there’s obviously a scientific aspect to it as well.”

In March, Environment Minister David Heurtel handpicked Méthot to succeed André Boisclair as COMEX chair. Previously, she had worked for various non-governmental organizations concerned with environmental protection, including the Canadian Boreal Initiative and the International Boreal Campaign.

“It was a big surprise,” she said. “I accepted the position with a lot of humility because I’m a big fan of the convention despite its imperfections. I have a lot of respect for the Cree leadership and all of the nation-to-nation negotiations going on between these two governments. Being asked to be part of that big picture is just wow, it’s bigger than me. It’s inspiring, it’s overwhelming and it’s a lot of responsibility.”