Regional Assessments

On this page

• What is a regional assessment?
• Benefits and potential outcomes
• How regional assessments are conducted

What is a regional assessment?

Regional assessments examine the positive and adverse effects (impacts) of past, existing and/or future activities within a specific region. These impacts can affect:

• Indigenous Peoples and their rights
• the environment
• social conditions
• the economy
• human health

These impacts can also be cumulative.

Unlike an impact assessment, which focuses on a specific project, regional assessments are broader. They are also flexible, so the goals and outcomes will vary. For example, they may focus on development in one or more industrial sectors. They may also assess a limited number of effects or a broad range of them.

Project impact assessments follow their own legislative deadlines and are separate from regional assessment timelines. Project-specific impacts are incorporated into regional assessments as part of the regional context and when analyzing cumulative effects.

Benefits and potential outcomes

Regional assessments can:

• create a broader understanding of:
  • cumulative effects within a region
  • impacts from multiple projects and activities in a region
• provide information (such as baseline data) to support future project assessments and decisions
• provide early opportunities to engage with Indigenous Peoples, the public, industry, and others
• support regional planning processes and development plans
• help to identify effective mitigation measures needed for future activities in a region
• assist Indigenous Peoples in understanding how development has, or might, affect their rights

How to request a regional assessment

Anyone may request a regional or strategic assessment, including members of the public, an Indigenous or non-Indigenous community, a non-governmental organization, an industry association or another jurisdiction. To learn more, visit Operational Guide: Requesting a Regional or Strategic Assessment under the Impact Assessment Act.

Minister’s Decision

The Minister of the Environment and Climate Change (Minister) decides whether a regional assessment should be conducted. This decision, along with the reasons behind the decision, are posted publicly on the Canadian Impact Assessment Registry. They are also provided directly to the requestor and potentially affected Indigenous communities and organizations and/or signatories to a modern treaty. (Learn more about modern treaties.)

Planning

The regional assessments we conduct include an opportunity for the assessment to be planned and conducted in partnership with Indigenous Peoples and provinces.

IAAC works and consults with federal and provincial authorities, Indigenous Peoples, and the public to propose the scope of the regional assessment (terms of reference). This document specifies, amongst other things, the objectives, procedures and scope of the regional assessment (including a time limit within which the assessment must be completed).

The final terms of reference are established by the Minister and posted on the Registry.

How regional assessments are conducted

A regional assessment in conducted in accordance with the terms of reference established by the Minister. It can be conducted by a committee or by IAAC. In some cases, IAAC may also form partnerships with interested First Nations, Inuit, Métis, and Modern Treaty Partners to carry out the assessment.

The regional assessment is also guided by the Policy Framework for Regional Assessments under the Impact Assessment Act.

Given that regional assessment is a flexible tool, the specific steps and details for each assessment are determined case-by-case basis.

Reporting

Once the regional assessment report has been drafted, it is posted on the Registry so the public can comment. The final regional assessment report is provided to the Minister and is also posted on the Registry. As a follow-up, the Minister may respond to the findings, requests and recommendations within the report.

Examples of completed or ongoing regional assessments can be found on the Canadian Impact Assessment Registry.