A Further Step Towards The Modernization Of Quebec's Environmental Authorization Regime

On September 2, 2020, the Regulation respecting the regulatory scheme applying to activities on the basis of their environmental impact (known in French as the "REAFIE"), as well as several other regulations, was finally adopted, thus allowing for the implementation of the new environmental authorization scheme under the Environment Quality Act (the "EQA"). It should be noted that the provisions of the REAFIE will come into force on December 31, 2020.

A look back at the key stages of modernization

• 2015: Publication of a green paper setting out the main objectives of the new and improved environmental authorization scheme. This marked the beginning of the first major overhaul of the EQA since 1972;