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ARTICLE · 12 JULY 2012

New Federal Environmental Assessment Regime Now In Force

Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
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Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP

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On June 29, 2012, the Canadian Senate passed Bill C-38, the Jobs, Growth and Long-term Prosperity Act, and it was signed by the Governor General on the same day. Some of the changes to environmental legislation such as the Fisheries Act and the Species at Risk Act (SARA) came into force on the day Bill C-38 was signed.

CanadaEnergy and Natural Resources
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
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On June 29, 2012, the Canadian Senate passed Bill C-38, the Jobs, Growth and Long-term Prosperity Act, and it was signed by the Governor General on the same day. Some of the changes to environmental legislation such as the Fisheries Act and the Species at Risk Act (SARA) came into force on the day Bill C-38 was signed. Other changes required orders from the federal cabinet and the creation of new regulations, and thus their implementation was delayed. However, the wait was short as the cabinet orders bringing a number of the amendments into force, in particular those aimed at streamlining natural resource development approvals, were issued effective July 6, 2012. As a result, the new environmental assessment regime and the associated amendments to the National Energy Board Act (NEB Act) are now in effect.

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