Compliance Promotion and Enforcement
This webpage and its contents do not supersede or modify the Impact Assessment Act or its regulations. In the event of an inconsistency between the contents of this webpage and the act and/or the regulations, the act and the regulations prevail. The contents of this webpage are general guidelines only and are subject to change.
The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) is responsible for promoting, monitoring and enabling compliance with the Impact Assessment Act and any decision statements issued by the Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Nature (the Minister).
IAAC's enforcement officers verify compliance and enforce the Impact Assessment Act (IAA) and any conditions included in decision statements. Enforcement officers also apply a number of compliance, promotion and enforcement activities to encourage compliance with the IAA and avoid adverse effects on the environment. These activities include carrying out site inspections and investigations. Enforcement officers apply the IAA in a fair, predictable and consistent manner and they use the authorities and powers founded in the IAA.
IAAC may also conduct its compliance promotion and enforcement activities in cooperation with other federal, provincial and territorial governments involved in enforcing Acts and Regulations complementary to the IAA.
Transcript: Compliance and enforcement in Canada's impact assessments
Today, let's take a look at the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada's compliance and enforcement program for major projects.
The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada aims to ensure major projects are developed sustainably and responsibly. It's our way of protecting the environment and communities.
We do this in part by making companies meet conditions set out by the government when a major project is approved.
To ensure compliance, the Agency follows a thorough process that includes project approval with conditions, regular inspections both on and off site to verify compliance, and taking enforcement actions when necessary.
While working with companies to ensure compliance, enforcement officers may issue orders, notices of non compliance, and may participate in prosecutions if conditions are not being met.
While many companies operate in a responsible manner, these tools are used to identify those companies that do not comply with conditions and ensure they become compliant.
Standard conditions often require companies to consult with Indigenous communities and groups throughout the life of a project.
The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada, through its Compliance and Enforcement Program, verifies companies' compliance with these and other conditions.
Compliance is not just about meeting the conditions of a project. It is about building projects that are sustainable, safe, and beneficial to nearby communities while continuing to protect the environment and Indigenous rights.
For more information on compliance and enforcement and impact assessment, visit canada.ca/iaac.
Policies and Resources
IAAC has developed resources on how to handle compliance, promotion and enforcement activities:
Memorandum of Understanding
Policies
- Compliance and Enforcement Policy for designated projects subject to the Impact Assessment Act (Updated August 2025) [PDF - 1.18MB]
Policy and guidance documents related to the federal impact assessment process are available on the Policy and Guidance section of IAAC's website.
Transparency and Openness
To maintain openness, transparency and accountability, IAAC is committed to providing online access to information related to its inspection activities and enforcement actions.
Enforcement
When IAAC enforcement officers have reasonable grounds to believe that non-compliance has occurred, they use various enforcement actions to restore compliance.
Annual Summary of Inspection Activities
Annual summary of inspection activities conducted by IAAC enforcement officers over the course of a fiscal year.
- Annual Summary of Inspection Activities (2023-2024)
- Annual Summary of Inspection Activities (2022-2023)
- Annual Summary of Inspection Activities (2021-2022)
- Annual Summary of Inspection Activities (2020-2021)
- Annual Summary of Inspection Activities (2019-2020)
- Annual Summary of Inspection Activities (2018-2019)
- Annual Summary of Inspection Activities (2017-2018)
- Annual Summary of Inspection Activities (2016-2017)
Proponent Submissions
After the completion of an impact assessment, the Minister must issue a decision statement. Decision statements may contain conditions requiring the proponent to submit annual reports, plans and implementation schedules (proponent submissions) to IAAC. These records are posted by project to the Canadian Impact Assessment Registry.
Contact the Compliance Promotion and Enforcement Unit
If you have questions or comments about IAAC's compliance and enforcement program and policies, or if you have reason to believe that there has been a contravention of the IAA, you may report it to IAAC at: postdecision@iaac-aeic.gc.ca
Privacy Notice
When you provide IAAC with a tip about a suspected offence or with any other information related to the enforcement of the IAA, your identity remains confidential in accordance with the federal Privacy Act.