How to Participate

The following procedural information outlines how members of the public may participate in matters that come before the Board. 

A PDF version of this information can be found here.

Please refer to our Privacy Policy for information on how submissions related to public hearings will be handled by the Board.

Submissions on a specific application will not be accepted until a notice of public hearing has been published.

A person may request intervenor status at a hearing by downloading and completing the Intervenor Status Application and submitting it to the Board no later than ten (10) calendar days after the date that the notice of the hearing is published.

In making decisions on an application for intervenor status at a hearing, the Board will reference the regulated factors as set out in section 3 of the Aquaculture Licence and Lease Regulations to determine whether the intervenor applicant is substantially and directly affected by the hearing.

Please refer to the Aquaculture Licence and Lease Regulations s.23-25 and s.30 for more information on Intervenor Status and on Evidence at Adjudicative Hearing.

If it is not clearly demonstrated that the intervenor applicant will be substantially and directly affected by the decision, the Board may choose to rule against the application.  A decision made by the Board with respect to intervenor status is final.

You may still however submit a written comment or request to speak at the hearing as a member of the public.

Members of the public wishing to participate at an adjudicative hearing may do so in one of two (2) ways:

1. Submitting a written comment to the Board;
2. Submitting a written request to make a sworn oral statement or an affirmation at the hearing.

Both types of submissions must be filed with the Board no later than fifteen (15) calendar days before the date of the hearing. All submissions will be date stamped by the Clerk of the Board as they are received.

When deciding on an application, the Board will only consider submissions that are specific to the aquaculture application before the Board.

Please see section 20 of the Aquaculture Licence and Lease Regulations and sections 11-13 of the Board Rules of Procedure for more information.

Members of the public may submit a written comment to the Board concerning the aquaculture application that is the subject of the Board’s hearing. At a minimum, the member of the public must include:

1. Their full name;
2. Their place of residence (civic address); and
3. The application about which they would like to provide comment and how the comment relates to one (1) or more of the factors set out in section 3 of the Aquaculture Licence and Lease Regulations.

What should a member of the public do if they wish to make a sworn oral statement or affirmation at the adjudicative hearing?

A member of the public must submit a written request to the Board including, at a minimum, the following information:

1. Their full name;
2. Their place of residence (civic address); and
3. The application about which they would like to provide a sworn oral statement or affirmation and how the sworn oral statement or affirmation relates to one (1) or more of the factors set out in section 3 of the Aquaculture Licence and Lease Regulations;

Oral testimony given by a member of the public at an adjudicative hearing will be limited to six (6) minutes per person and must be in relation to one or more of the regulated factors set out in section 3 of the Aquaculture Lease and License Regulations.

The Board may limit a sworn oral statement or affirmation if it does not meet the criteria or if it is unduly repetitious.

Please see section 32 of the Aquaculture Licence and Lease Regulations and sections 11 -13 of the Board Rules of Procedure for more information.