Regional and Strategic Assessments

The Impact Assessment Act (the Act) allows for the conduct of regional and strategic assessments. These may happen in one of two ways. The Minister of Environment and Climate Change (the Minister) may establish a committee for one of these assessments or the Minister may authorize the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (the Agency) to conduct the assessment.

Regional assessments assess the effects of existing or future physical activities carried out in a region.

Strategic assessments examine the Government of Canada's existing or proposed policies, plans, or programs relevant to impact assessment. Strategic assessments may also focus on issues relevant to impact assessment.

Information on potential, ongoing and completed regional and strategic assessments is available on the Canadian Impact Assessment Registry.

Policy and guidance

The Agency has developed the following policy and guidance documents. These support the conduct of regional and strategic assessments under the Act. This page will be updated as further policy and guidance become available.

• Policy Framework on Strategic Assessment under the Impact Assessment Act
• Fact sheet: Strategic Assessment under the Impact Assessment Act
• Fact sheet: Regional Assessment under the Impact Assessment Act
• Operational guide: Requesting a regional or strategic assessment under the Impact Assessment Act