REGIONAL ASSESSMENT UNDER THE IMPACT ASSESSMENT ACT Impact

REGIONAL ASSESSMENT UNDER THE IMPACT ASSESSMENT ACT Impact Assessment Agency of Canada Agence d’évaluation d’impact du Canada

What are Regional Assessments? • Studies conducted in areas of existing projects or anticipated development to inform planning and management of cumulative effects and inform project impact assessments • Go beyond project-focused impact assessments to understand the regional context and provide more comprehensive analyses to help inform future impact assessment decisions • One component of a broader Government of Canada effort to address the issue of cumulative effects nationally Impact Assessment Agency of Canada Agence d’évaluation d’impact du Canada 2

Regional Assessment Provisions under the Impact Assessment Act • The Minister of the Environment can set up regional assessments through the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada or through a committee. • Regional assessment results must be taken into account in project impact assessments. • Anyone may request a regional or strategic assessment, including members of the public, an Indigenous community, a nongovernmental organization, an industry association or another jurisdiction. Impact Assessment Agency of Canada Agence d’évaluation d’impact du Canada 3

Types of Regional Assessment • Regional Assessments should be flexible and designed to allow a better understanding of and response to regional issues. • A range of approaches could be used in regional assessment • Regional Assessment could include multiple activities and/or project-types within a region, or it could focus on a specific sector or activity within a region. Impact Assessment Agency of Canada Agence d’évaluation d’impact du Canada 4

Requesting a Regional Assessment • The Minister must respond to any request for a regional assessment to be conducted (ss. 97(1)). • The response, with reasons, must be provided within 90 days of receiving the request, and must be posted on the Canadian Impact Assessment Registry. • The response would be informed by a number of considerations, including whether: § § § the regional assessment could inform future federal impact assessment decisions there is the potential for effects from development within federal jurisdiction, including cumulative effects, in the region there are opportunities for collaboration with jurisdictions in the region. Impact Assessment Agency of Canada Agence d’évaluation d’impact du Canada 5

Preparing a Request • Description of the region that is the subject of the request, including: § geographic coordinates (if available), § current and potential development activities • Explanation of why you think a regional assessment should be conducted in the region, including: § your views about the main issues and activities to be considered in the regional assessment, § what the regional assessment would accomplish and § how it would be useful in informing future impact assessments and decisions Impact Assessment Agency of Canada Agence d’évaluation d’impact du Canada 6

Guidance Material • Regional Assessment under the Impact Assessment Act, Fact Sheet: https: //www. canada. ca/en/impact-assessment-agency/services/policy-guidance/regionalassessment-impact-assessment-act. html • Operational Guide: Requesting a Regional or Strategic Assessment under the Impact Assessment Act: https: //www. canada. ca/en/impact-assessment-agency/services/policyguidance/requesting-regional-strategic-assessment-iaa. html Impact Assessment Agency of Canada Agence d’évaluation d’impact du Canada 7