Policy and guidance

On June 20, 2024, the Budget Implementation Act, 2024, received Royal Assent and brought into force amendments to the Impact Assessment Act (IAA). These changes were made in response to the Supreme Court of Canada’s decision on the constitutionality of the IAA. Over the coming weeks and months, this website along with procedures, policy and guidance documents will be updated to reflect these legislative changes, as required.

Impact assessments under IAA

Impact assessments under IAA

The following documents provide guidance on federal impact assessments under the Impact Assessment Act (IAA). For more information on the Impact Assessment Act, please consult the Legislation and Regulations page.

Overview

We have developed several resources to help explain the federal government's impact assessment process.

Practitioner's guide to impact assessments

The Practitioner's guide to federal impact assessments includes templates and detailed policy guidance, including guidance on the factors to consider, public participation and Indigenous participation and engagement.

Designating projects under the Impact Assessment Act

Designate projects that are not part of the Project List includes information on how, and in what circumstances, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change may designate a proposed project that is not on the Project List.

External technical reviews

External technical reviews includes information on how, and in what circumstances, the Agency or a Review Panel may wish to conduct an external technical review for a federal impact assessment.

Reference guides

Regional and strategic assessments

Regional and strategic assessments

The Impact Assessment Act allows for the conduct of regional and strategic assessments. These may happen in one of two ways. The Minister of Environment and Climate Change may establish a committee for one of these assessments or the Minister may authorize the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada to conduct the assessment. Regional and strategic assessments are considered in federal impact assessments. They may have various other outcomes, depending on the specific regional or strategic assessment.

Regional assessments assess the positive and adverse effects of multiple existing and future physical activities in a specific geographic region, including cumulative effects.

Strategic assessments examine the Government of Canada's existing or proposed policies, plans, or programs relevant to impact assessment. Strategic assessments may also focus on issues relevant to impact assessment.

Information on potential, ongoing and completed regional and strategic assessments is available on the Canadian Impact Assessment Registry.

The Agency has developed the following policy and guidance documents to support the conduct of regional and strategic assessments under the Impact Assessment Act. This page will be updated as further policy and guidance become available.

Environmental assessments under former legislations

Environmental assessments under former legislations

The following documents provide guidance on federal environmental assessments commenced under the former Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 (CEAA 2012). They are retained for the completion of transitional environmental assessments commenced prior to the Impact Assessment Act (IAA). Some information contained in the documents may still be of interest to those undertaking impact assessments under the IAA, if they have not been replaced by an updated version in the above list. For more information on transitional environmental assessments, please consult the Legislation and Regulations page.

Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012

Overview

Operational policy statements

Technical guidance

Reference guides

Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 1992

All documents related to environmental assessments under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 1992 (CEAA 1992) are retained for the completion of transitional environmental assessments commenced prior to CEAA 2012. Some information contained in the documents may still be of interest to those undertaking environmental assessments under CEAA 2012.

Procedural guides

Operational policy statements

Public participation

Other

Strategic environmental assessments

Strategic environmental assessments

As of April 1, 2024, the Cabinet Directive on the Environmental Assessment of Policy, Plan and Program Proposals, also known as Strategic Environmental Assessment, was rescinded and archived. It has been replaced by the Cabinet Directive on Strategic Environmental and Economic Assessment. Environment and Climate Change Canada is now assuming whole-of-government support regarding the implementation of the new Cabinet Directive. For further details, consult Environment and Climate Change Canada's page.

The following documents provide information on strategic environmental assessment. Strategic environmental assessment is a tool used by Government departments to systematically assess the potential environmental effects of proposed public policies, plans and programs.

Projects on Federal Lands and Outside Canada

Projects on Federal Lands and Outside Canada

The following links provide information on Projects on Federal Lands and Outside Canada under the Impact Assessment Act.

For more information on the Impact Assessment Act, please consult the Legislation and Regulations page.

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