Why this toolkit? Why now?
Canada’s transition to a low-carbon economy is happening now — and a timely and efficient federal impact assessment system assures clean-energy and other major projects meet the high standards Canadians expect.
What kind of projects are we talking about? Mines for critical minerals, offshore wind development and transportation infrastructure — to name just a few — which are essential to Canada’s growth. How we ensure good projects get built while protecting the environment and Indigenous rights is what federal impact assessments are all about.
Why a toolkit now?
In October 2023, the Supreme Court of Canada found parts of the Government of Canada’s Impact Assessment Act unconstitutional. As the government updated the federal impact assessment system to align it better with federal jurisdiction, it also took the opportunity to focus on the efficiencies businesses were calling for.
The result is an improved impact assessment system which respects federal jurisdiction, provides more certainty for investors, protects the environment and Indigenous rights, and welcomes collaboration with other governments to meet the goal of "one project, one assessment." In other words, it makes the process timelier and more predictable to help good projects get across the finish line.
Explore this toolkit to discover Canada’s improved federal impact assessment system and its benefits. *
*Disclaimer: This toolkit is written in plain language to help readers better understand how major projects are assessed in Canada. It is not a substitute for the Impact Assessment Act. Where there are differences or omissions, the text of the Impact Assessment Act takes precedence.
Learn what’s changed (for the better). Learn why these changes occurred. Learn how to participate in an assessment process.
Who is the toolkit for?
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