Have your say on the draft co-operation agreement between Nova Scotia and Canada - Public comments invited

Public Notice

February 13, 2026 – Ottawa, ON – Impact Assessment Agency of Canada

What is happening?

In May 2025, the Government of Canada committed to striking co-operation agreements with every interested province. These agreements will help achieve the Government’s goal of "one project, one review" while upholding Canada’s world-leading environmental standards and constitutional obligations to Indigenous Peoples.

The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) invites Indigenous Peoples and the public to provide comments on the draft co-operation agreement between the Governments of Nova Scotia and Canada.

This draft co-operation agreement outlines how Nova Scotia and Canada will work together towards a "one project, one review" for major projects requiring an assessment by both the federal and provincial governments. This agreement formalizes the commitment of both jurisdictions to conduct an efficient and effective assessment process that minimizes duplication and respects federal and provincial jurisdiction. It will facilitate the implementation of the co-operation tools and flexibilities available in the Impact Assessment Act. It will also provide certainty on the approaches to be used, while maintaining flexibility to implement the appropriate approach on a project-by-project basis.

IAAC also sought comments through a consultation paper, more generally, on Canada’s proposed approach to working with provinces on the assessment of major projects. Comments received from that consultation are also being considered for the co-operation agreement with Nova Scotia.

How can I provide comments?

Visit the Draft Co-operation Agreement between Nova Scotia and Canada to review the draft co-operation agreement and submit comments.

Comments submitted by March 6, 2026, 11:59 p.m. ET will be considered. All comments will be publicly posted.

To view the co-operation approach paper and view comments received, visit the Let’s Talk Impact Assessment webpage.

Next Steps

All comments will be considered when finalizing the Nova Scotia-Canada co-operation agreement. The final agreement will be posted to Canada.ca/iaac.

Contacts

For more information, contact intergovernmentalaffairs-affairesintergouvernementales@iaac-aeic.gc.ca or to learn more about federal-provincial co-operation visit: Cooperation - Canada.ca.

For media inquiries, write to media@iaac-aeic.gc.ca.

Stay updated by following IAAC on X: @IAAC_AEIC