Cooperative Impact Assessments (Infographic)

The Government of Canada is committed to meeting the objective of “one project, one assessment” in its review of projects. By working with other jurisdictions, we can reduce duplication and increase efficiency and certainty about the process.

Ways we can cooperate

Coordination: Jurisdictions coordinate activities and, where possible, timelines and documents.

Delegation: Federal government delegates some tasks to one or more jurisdictions, while remaining responsible for the overall process.

Substitution: Federal government allows a jurisdiction’s process to replace the federal process, with each jurisdiction making its own decision based on a single assessment report.

Joint Review Panel: Jurisdictions jointly appoint panel members and agree on terms of reference for an independent panel to conduct the impact assessment.

Planning Phase (up to 180 days)

Projects will go through a planning and engagement phase where potential impacts are discussed with the public and Indigenous peoples at the outset. This phase will present enhanced opportunities for cooperation and harmonization with provinces, territories and Indigenous jurisdictions to achieve “one project, one assessment”.

• Agency receives Initial Project Description
• Agency notifies other jurisdiction(s) and offers to consult on impact assessment
• Agency conducts engagement on issues
• Agency and other jurisdiction(s) discuss ways to cooperate on the assessment
• Agency provides Summary of Issues to proponent
• Proponent submits Detailed Project Description as well as a response to the Summary of Issues
• Agency determines if impact assessment is required
• Agency develops and engages with other jurisdiction(s) on planning documents
• Assessment begins

Benefits “one project, one assessment”

Efficiency: Reduced duplication, shared activities, joint documentation

Rigour: Meets the requirements of all jurisdictions

Clarity: Clear, predictable process, leading to a common understanding of the evidence and potential impacts

What is a Cooperation Agreement?

A cooperation agreement describes how the Agency will work with another jurisdiction in future project reviews. An agreement sets out guiding principles, roles and responsibilities of each jurisdiction, and the cooperative processes that may be used. Cooperation agreements help inform project-specific cooperation plans.