Agreements related to assessments

Many agreements are in place to evaluate proposed projects in a more efficient, predictable and accountable manner.

• Federal-Provincial/Territorial Impact Assessment Cooperation Agreements
• Memoranda of Understanding
• Federal-Provincial/Territorial EA Cooperation Agreements
• Federal-Aboriginal Agreements
• James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement
• International Agreements

Federal-Provincial/Territorial Impact Assessment Cooperation Agreements

Under the new Impact Assessment Act, the Government of Canada is committed to meeting the objective of "one project, one assessment" in its review of projects. Working with provincial, territorial and Indigenous jurisdictions will result in better coordination and alignment of impact assessment timelines and procedures.

• Cooperative Impact Assessments (Infographic)
• Impact Assessment Cooperation Agreement Between Canada and British Columbia
  • Backgrounder

Memoranda of Understanding

Memoranda of Understanding with the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission and the Canadian Energy Regulator

The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada has entered into Memoranda of Understanding with the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission and the Canadian Energy Regulator establishing how the organizations will work together to integrate the regulatory requirements under the Nuclear Safety and Control Act and the Canadian Energy Regulator Act into the impact assessment process under the Impact Assessment Act. The details of the cooperative processes are outlined in protocols attached to each memorandum. The protocols are evergreen documents that will be updated as required to reflect best practices and lessons learned in the ongoing conduct of integrated impact assessments.

• Memorandum of Understanding between the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
• Memorandum of Understanding between the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada and the Canadian Energy Regulator

Memoranda of Understanding on Substitution under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act

• Memorandum of Understanding between the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency and the British Columbia Environmental Assessment Office on Substitution of Environmental Assessments (2013)

Federal-Provincial/Territorial Environmental Assessment Cooperation Agreements

• Canada - Alberta Agreement for Environmental Assessment Cooperation
• Canada - British Columbia Agreement for Environmental Assessment Cooperation
• Canada - Manitoba Agreement on Environmental Assessment Cooperation
• Canada - Newfoundland and Labrador Agreement for Environmental Assessment Cooperation
• Canada - Ontario Agreement on Environmental Assessment Cooperation
• Canada - Quebec Agreement on Environmental Assessment Cooperation
• Canada - Saskatchewan Agreement on Environmental Assessment Cooperation
• Canada - Yukon Agreement on Environmental Assessment Cooperation

Federal-Aboriginal Agreements

Agreements with Aboriginal groups help to harmonize the federal and environmental assessment processes and promote an open and participatory process for assessing the environmental implications of projects on Aboriginal lands. They ensure that resources are used efficiently and effectively and that only a single assessment occurs for one project. They also improve the integration of environmental and economic considerations.

• Inuvialuit Land Claim Organization Agreement

James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement

The James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement (JBNQA) is the first modern land claim agreement in Canada. Signed in 1975, the JBNQA sets out an environmental and social protection regime for the territorial regions of James Bay and Nunavik. Learn about the review process of projects under JBNQA and the organizations involved.

International Agreements

The Government of Canada recognizes the need to ensure that actions undertaken in Canada do not cause environmental harm to other nations. It actively promotes and fosters cooperation in Canada and abroad regarding transboundary environmental impacts. Such efforts lead to agreements that address environmental impacts that may cross borders and that foster sound environmental practices and international cooperation.

• UNECE Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context (Espoo, 1991)