Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency 160 Elgin St., 22nd floor Ottawa ON K1A 0H3 613-957-0791 January 31, 2014 Carolyn Dunn [email protected] William Landstrom President Métis Nation of Alberta Region 1 Sent via e-mail : Dear William, Re: Teck Frontier Oil Sands Project – Consultation on the Draft Joint Review Panel Agreement and Draft Terms of Reference Thank you for your letter of December 16, 2013, outlining Métis Nation of Alberta Region 1’s (MNAR1) comments and concerns related to the Teck Frontier Oil Sands project (the Project). I understand that many of MNAR1’s comments are directed to Teck Resources Ltd (the proponent) as well as to the province. This response only addresses those concerns which are considered to be related to the federal environmental assessment. Thank you for the background information you have provided about MNAR1 and its members. Regarding the request for a Frontier Mine project-specific traditional land‐use study that assesses the potential impacts on your Métis community, a similar request was made in the federal supplemental information requests (SIRs) that were sent to the Proponent on December 23, 2013. To see these SIRs, go to: http://www.ceaa- acee.gc.ca/050/documents/p65505/97283E.pdf Specifically, SIR # 2.1 asks that the Proponent describe how it has addressed the concerns of MNAR1, and SIR # 2.2 asks the Proponent to provide Métis traditional land use information for MNAR1. Regarding the request to identify potentially affected Aboriginal groups, the December 23, 2013 SIR # 2.1b asks that the Proponent clearly identify which Aboriginal groups the Proponent considers to be potentially affected. I note MNAR1’s statements on the limited capacity it has to be able to participate in this environmental assessment. MNAR1 has qualified for funding to assist its participation in the review of the Project under Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency’s Participant Funding Program (PFP). The PFP provides limited financial assistance specifically to Aboriginal groups to assist them to prepare for and participate in consultation activities and opportunities associated with environmental assessments undertaken by the Agency or by review panels. The Agency receives a fixed annual budget and the PFP is administered in a manner that enables it to provide financial contributions to all qualifying applicants across Canada in a fair