PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS Project: Sea-to-Sky Highway Improvement Project Client: BC Ministry of Transportation Services: First Nation Consultation and Liaison, Consultation Policy Development, Policy and Program Review, Strategic Advisory Services, Joint Venture Development, Corporate Program Development, Training and Capacity Building, Environment Assessment, Project Management Goal: The Ministry of Transportation in BC is in the process of upgrading Highway 99 between Horseshoe Bay and Whistler. The Ministry chose Hemmera to act as First Nations Manager due to their experience and recognized expertise in this area. Hemmera's role is to provide strategic advice and recommend mitigative options on potential impacts to the relevant First Nations, and to effectively engage the communities in the environmental assessment process. Our Work: The Sea to Sky highway has become well-known for its beautiful scenery, and equally as well as one of Canada’s most hazardous stretches of highway from a safety and reliability standpoint. A major upgrade to this highway was a key commitment within the 2010 Olympic Bid and since wining the Games, the Sea to Sky project has become one of the largest infrastructure undertakings in Canada. In 2003 Hemmera started the process of proactive consultation and communications, involving the four First Nations in the Environmental Assessment review process to ensure that their different needs and views were addressed by government. Hemmera has been working with the First Nation communities to facilitate the resolution of key project issues in a way that is mutually beneficial for both the provincial government and the First Nations. To this end, Hemmera has established a process for focused, open and sincere dialogue between government and First Nations communities. This has involved: Engaging the relevant First Nations in an effective project-based consultation process by establishing productive working relationships with each of them. Consulting with the First Nations in relation to their specific interests that may be potentially impacted by the project. Establishing a coordinated approach to First Nation participation in the environmental assessment process. Facilitating effective communication of specific First Nation issues and interests to Project Team members and the EAO. Assisting in the identification of mitigation strategies for use by: (i) the Project Team as relates to project development, and (ii) the EAO as relates to the environmental assessment process. Communicating key project related information back to First Nations to ensure they are kept informed as the project proceeds. First Nations consultation must also adhere to the British Columbia Environmental Assessment Act (BCEAA) and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA), in addition to meeting the government's common law obligations to consult.  Results: Hemmera experts are responsible for developing and coordinating the First Nations consultation program in relation to the project as part of the overall environmental assessment process leading up to Project Certification, as well as managing the accommodation negotiations with the relevant First Nations Hemmera's role within the project has enabled the Ministry of Transportation to meet their legal obligations regarding consultation while engage First Nation communities in project design and review. The most beneficial outcome of this consultation has been the establishment of an effective working relationship between the government and these communities that will extend to future projects in the developing region.

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