Challenges To Project Permits And Approvals: The Latest Word From The Courts (Video)

Major projects in all sectors take years of careful planning. Obtaining permits and approvals are a key part of that multi-year process. But even if a project receives all necessary permits and approvals, those permits and approvals may still be challenged in the courts.

The process for challenging an approval depends on how the project is regulated. Projects subject to federal environmental regulation under the Impact Assessment Act or its predecessor, the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012, are good examples. These approvals require both technical evaluation and broad consultation about the potential environmental effects of a project. Based on that evaluation, the federal government engages in a decision-making process whereby it decides whether (or not) to approve the project.