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.

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.

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

Completed or ongoing assessments

Completed or ongoing regional and strategic assessments are listed below. Additional information is available at each link.

Regional assessments

• Regional Assessment of the Ring of Fire Area
• Regional Assessment of Offshore Oil and Gas Exploratory Drilling East of Newfoundland and Labrador (Completed)

Strategic assessments

• Strategic Assessment of Thermal Coal Mining (Cancelled)
• Strategic Assessment of Climate Change (Completed)