What is the federal government’s role in environmental assessment?
The Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA) is the federal statute for conducting federal environmental assessments (EAs).
The federal EA process applies to:
- projects planned by a federal authority
- projects on federal crown land
- projects funded by the federal government
- projects that require federal approval for example a licence or permit
What happens when both federal and provincial environmental assessments are required?
Some projects may be subject to both provincial and federal environmental assessment (EA) legislation. To reduce any potential duplication, Ontario signed a cooperative agreement with the federal government. This agreement commits both governments to conduct a cooperative EA while retaining their respective decision making powers. This coordinated approach aims to reduce or remove the duplication of documentation and consultation efforts.
An example of a project that would likely be subject to coordinated provincial and federal EA review would be a new freeway.
Learn more: Federal/Provincial Environmental Assessment Coordination in Ontario: A Guide for Proponents and the Public
