Log in or register
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn

ARTICLE · 21 APRIL 2017

Expert Report On Environmental Assessment Gives Rise To More Uncertainty

Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP
Explore more from Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP

On April 5, 2017, the Expert Panel for the Review of Environmental Assessment Processes in Canada released its Final Report entitled Building Common Ground

CanadaEnvironment
Shawn Denstedt
Shawn Denstedt
Sander Duncanson
Sander Duncanson
Author LinkedIn connections

In this Update

On April 5, 2017, the Expert Panel for the Review of Environmental Assessment Processes in Canada released its Final Report entitled Building Common Ground: A New Vision for Impact Assessment in Canada. This Update outlines the Expert Panel's recommendations and their potential impact on environmental assessments and the regulatory process. It also examines the implications of the recommendations on the competitiveness of Canada's resource industries.

Background

On August 15, 2016, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change established an Expert Panel (Panel) to review federal environmental assessment processes in Canada. This review was predicated on the Liberal government's belief that the Canadian public had lost confidence in the environmental assessment process under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 (CEAA 2012). Among other things, the Panel was tasked with considering how public confidence in environmental assessments

We operate a free-to-view policy, asking only that you register in order to read all of our content. Please login or register to view the rest of this article.

Register for freeORLog in

View source

Related Articles

Legal Intelligence Newsletters: sign up for the latest legal and regulatory news on your chosen topics

Read more about

Related Comparative Guides

See more popular content from

Article

Amendments Streamline Project List Under Impact Assessment Act

The Government of Canada has amended regulations under the Impact Assessment Act to streamline environmental reviews for major infrastructure projects, particularly interprovincial pipelines. These changes shift regulatory responsibility for certain energy projects to the Canada Energy Regulator while removing other project types from federal review following the Supreme Court's 2024 constitutional ruling.
CanadaEnvironment
MLT Aikins LLP
MLT Aikins LLP
Article

Federal Government Removes Certain Energy Projects From The Impact Assessment Act Project List

The Canadian government has removed seven types of energy projects from federal impact assessment requirements, shifting review responsibilities to the Canada Energy Regulator and provincial processes. This regulatory change affects pipelines, electrical transmission lines, oil sands facilities, and power plants, fundamentally altering how major energy infrastructure projects will be evaluated and approved across Canada.
CanadaEnvironment
McCarthy Tétrault
McCarthy Tétrault
Article

Ontario Invites Expressions Of Interest For Licences Under The Geologic Carbon Storage Act

Ontario has launched its first call for expressions of interest in carbon capture and storage licences under the new Geologic Carbon Storage Act, targeting Crown-owned pore space beneath lakebeds surrounding the Ontario Peninsula. The detailed submission requirements reveal expectations that proponents have advanced well beyond initial planning stages, with the process serving as a critical test of Ontario's emerging CCS framework and its attractiveness to industry.
CanadaEnvironment
Torys
Torys
Article

Canadian Product Stewardship And EPR: 2026 Summer Update

Canadian governments and producer-responsibility organizations are refining extended producer responsibility programs across the country, affecting packaging, batteries, electronics, and hazardous products. Recent regulatory changes include expanded collection obligations, adjusted compliance timelines, and new enforcement measures, with significant developments in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, and Atlantic provinces.
CanadaEnvironment
Gowling WLG
Gowling WLG
Article

Changes To Fisheries Act Authorizations Regulations Streamline Application Process

On October 15, 2026, amendments to Canada's Fisheries Act Authorizations Regulations will streamline the application process for projects affecting fish and fish habitat. How will the new risk-based approach to offsetting requirements, deferred financial guarantees, and expanded ministerial powers reshape regulatory compliance for proponents navigating federal environmental approvals?
CanadaEnvironment
McMillan LLP
McMillan LLP
Article

Changing Lanes: Canada Proposes To Replace Its ZEV Sales Mandate With Technology-neutral Emission Standards

Canada is proposing to eliminate its federal zero-emission vehicle sales mandate and replace it with technology-neutral greenhouse gas emission standards. The shift comes amid declining EV sales, affordability concerns, and trade uncertainty with the United States, raising questions about how the automotive industry will balance climate goals with market realities. What will this regulatory transformation mean for manufacturers, consumers, and Canada's electrification timeline?
CanadaEnvironment
McCarthy Tétrault
McCarthy Tétrault
Article

The Trade War Tit-for-tat Continues: United States Responds To Canada’s Retaliatory Surtaxes With New Tariffs And Import Prohibitions

Canada and the United States have escalated their trade war with new retaliatory tariffs and import prohibitions taking effect in September 2026. What specific goods are now subject to these measures, and how do the complex layers of tariffs interact to impact cross-border commerce? This comprehensive analysis breaks down the latest developments in the deteriorating Canada-U.S. economic relationship.
CanadaInternational Law
Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP
Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP
Article

Elbows Back Up: U.S. Section 338 Tariffs, Canada’s Retaliatory Surtaxes And The Current Tariff Landscape

As Canada and the United States escalate their trade dispute with new retaliatory tariffs, businesses face mounting compliance challenges across multiple sectors. This analysis examines the comprehensive tariff landscape affecting bilateral trade, including Canada's September 8, 2026 surtaxes on U.S. imports and the corresponding American section 338 tariffs, detailing rates, exemptions, and the legal frameworks governing these measures.
CanadaInternational Law
Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP
Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP
Article

Canadian Prime Minister Announces ‘Productivity Mega Deduction’

Canada's new Productivity Mega Deduction permanently provides immediate expensing for a wide range of depreciable property and Canadian development expenses, dramatically expanding the scope beyond the previously announced Productivity Super Deduction. The measure aims to reduce Canada's marginal effective tax rate on new business investment to 6.4%, positioning it as the lowest among major economies and less than half the U.S. rate.
CanadaTax
Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP
Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP
Article

OSC Releases Crypto Asset Survey Results

The Ontario Securities Commission's 2026 survey reveals significant shifts in Canadian cryptocurrency adoption, awareness, and sentiment. With ownership rates more than doubling since 2023 and a growing belief that crypto will play a key role in Canada's financial system, the findings paint a picture of an evolving landscape where traditional financial advisors increasingly recommend crypto investments, yet regulatory awareness remains surprisingly low among the general population.
CanadaFinance and Banking
Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP
Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP