Amended Impact Assessment Act now in force

Public Notice

June 21, 2024 – Impact Assessment Agency of Canada

Context

Budget 2024 and the Building Canada’s Clean Future plan reinforced the need for significant and sustained private sector investment in clean electricity, critical minerals, transportation, and other major projects as Canada moves toward a net-zero economy. In addition to announcing several efficiency measures to support the deployment of clean growth projects and improve the efficiency, transparency and predictability of federal regulatory and permitting processes for major projects, the Government of Canada also tabled targeted and meaningful amendments to the Impact Assessment Act (IAA) through the Budget Implementation Act (BIA) to respond to the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC)’s decision on the constitutionality of the IAA.

What’s new?

On June 20, 2024, the BIA received Royal Assent and the amended IAA came into force, re-establishing a robust framework that restores certainty and clarity to project proponents, Indigenous communities, and stakeholders, and delivers good projects for Canada.

The amended IAA responds meaningfully to the SCC’s decision, including anchoring decision-making in impact assessments on areas of clear federal jurisdiction. It also enhances flexibility to cooperate with other jurisdictions in support of cooperative federalism, and supports an efficient, effective, inclusive, and environmentally sound assessment process for clean growth projects.

Canada can now confidently move forward with impact assessments that are critical to understanding the impacts of major projects and preventing and mitigating significant adverse federal effects.

Where can I find more information?

For information on the amendments made to the Impact Assessment Act, consult this factsheet.

For the full text of the amended Impact Assessment Act, consult Bill C-69: An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on April 16, 2024.

For information on the Budget Implementation Act receiving Royal Assent, consult this news release.

For information on the Government of Canada’s plan to modernize federal assessment and permitting processes to get clean growth projects built faster, consult Building Canada’s Clean Future.

For media inquiries, please contact IAAC’s media relations team by writing to media@iaac-aeic.gc.ca or by calling 343-549-3870.

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