CRINS-SINRC is a not-for-profit corporation owned and operated on behalf of member Land Use Authorities (LUAs) - typically municipal government, or in the case of Crown Lands a provincial or federal agency - to receive, process and evaluate proposals for radiocommunications facilities. Proponents submit information regarding their proposed radiocommunications sites for review by the LUA and the general public.
Once a proponent submits an application for a proposed site, a five step process is undertaken:
Preconsultation with Land Use Authority.
Although radiocommunications sites are a federal undertaking, the Land Use Authority is recognized as the first point of contact by the public regarding all development and land use within their jurisdictional boundaries. As a result, Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada (ISEDC) recognizes that Land Use Authorities have valuable input regarding land use in the local area surrounding a proposed radiocommunications site.
Once a proponent submits an application for review, the Land Use Authority will examine the information provided to determine if they require further clarification on the proposal. The LUA may also provide further information regarding other radiocommunications applications in the area, or non-radiocommunications development proposals which may affect the proposed site.
It is at this point a Land Use Authority may determine that the proposed site is located in a zoning area where a radiocommunications site is already an accepted use (i.e. an industrial zone), or that an exemption under Section 6 of Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada (ISEDC)’s CPC 2-0-03 (2014) from consultation should be granted. If so, a Notice of Facility Exemption will be issued to the Proponent indicating that further consultation is not required.Notification of Local Residents of the Proposed Radiocommunications Site.
Once an application has been submitted, and if the LUA determines that the site is not exempted from public consultation, the proponent pays the requisite fees and the public consultation process begins. CRINS-SINRC, in cooperation with the Land Use Authority, produces an information package for each proposed site and sends a notification to all registered landowners within the designated notification area. Finally those residents who have registered on CRINS-SINRC will receive an e-mail notification of new applications or updated information for existing applications in which they have indicated an interest.Evaluation of the Proposed Radiocommunications site by the LUA.
The Land Use Authority reviews each application in the context of its existing zoning and strategic land use plan. In some cases a proposed site is considered an acceptable use within the area while in others the proposed site might be considered a drastic departure from existing uses.
Municipal zoning and land use strategies are not binding on radiocommunications sites, due to their federal jurisdiction, but it is important that LUAs communicate this information to the proponent and Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada (ISEDC) so these considerations can be reviewed and so that the final design is sensitive to the strategic land use plan of the area.
Some of the key elements that are considered by the Land Use Authority in evaluating a proposed radiocommunications site include: environmental concerns and effects on land features such as waterways and sensitive ecological areas, historical buildings and properties, archeological and culturally sensitive areas (including First Nations lands), and architecturally significant streetscapes.
The Land Use Authority provides input into the CRINS-SINRC online system so that it may be viewed by the proponent and the public as part of the public discourse.Solicitation of Public Input on the Proposed Radiocommunications Site.
Concurrently through the use of adjacent landowner notification packages, social media communications, and the CRINS-SINRC website, CRINS-SINRC actively solicits comments from the stakeholders regarding proposed radiocommunications sites.
The CRINS-SINRC website provides a central repository for public comments on proposed radiocommunications facilities, as well as a host of informative material to educate the public on the factors and considerations involved in the development of these sites, thereby allowing the public to assess the impact of proposed facilities in their area.
All comments received by CRINS-SINRC, are made available to the public via the website, except where prohibited by law, this includes written correspondence received by CRINS-SINRC which is scanned into digital form and added to the online system for review.
Participating Land Use Authorities may provide computer access to the CRINS-SINRC online system at strategic locations to facilitate information gathering and sharing with the public.Submission of the Final Report and publication to the public.
Upon completion of the public notification period the Land Use Authority, along with CRINS-SINRC staff, assess whether public concerns have been properly addressed by the Proponent. If so, the Proponent will be granted a Notice of Completion indicating the satisfactory end of the public consultation process.
While a Notice of Completion recognizes the completion of the appropriate notification process, it does not indicate support for the proposed site by the Land Use Authority nor the local residents. CRINS-SINRC will provide a separate report outlining any concerns or conditions by the Land Use Authority or remaining concerns from the general public to be addressed by the Proponent. Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada (ISEDC) promotes continuing dialogue between Proponents and LUAs to resolve any outstanding issues.
Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada (ISEDC) has access to all information in the CRINS-SINRC system to help assess compliance with CPC 2-0-03 and to execute its responsibilities to arbitrate outstanding disputes. Any final decisions by Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada (ISEDC) will be included in the CRINS-SINRC online system.
