Log in or register
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn

ARTICLE · 20 APRIL 2017

Federal Expert Panel Releases Report On Environmental Assessment Processes

Aird & Berlis LLP
Explore more from Aird & Berlis LLP

On April 5, 2017, the Expert Panel appointed by Canada's Minister of Environment and Climate Change released their report on the review of federal environmental assessment processes.

CanadaEnvironment
David Stevens
David Stevens
Author LinkedIn connections

On April 5, 2017, the Expert Panel appointed by Canada's Minister of Environment and Climate Change released their report on the review of federal environmental assessment processes. The report, titled Building Common Ground: A New Vision for Impact Assessment in Canada, describes the consultation undertaken by the four-person Expert Panel and sets out a large number of recommendations.

The Expert Panel report is intended to be an important input into the Government of Canada's ongoing review of environmental and regulatory processes (described in an earlier post). This ongoing process also includes a review of the National Energy Board (NEB), with the aim of "modernizing" the NEB. A separate Expert Panel was appointed to assist in that review, but that work is ongoing. According to NEB Modernization Expert Panels' website, their report is expected by May 15, 2017.

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

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

Canada’s 2026 AI Strategy: What Businesses Need To Know

Canada's National Artificial Intelligence Strategy marks a significant shift in federal AI policy, moving away from standalone legislation toward a comprehensive framework that emphasizes privacy reform, data sovereignty, and business adoption. The Strategy outlines six interconnected pillars designed to position Canada as a global AI leader while addressing regulatory gaps through existing legal frameworks and new policy tools.
CanadaTechnology
Aird & Berlis LLP
Aird & Berlis LLP
Article

The PULSE Report: Governance Of Ontario’s Electric Utilities And Implementation Of Required Changes

Ontario's PULSE report and Bill 140 propose sweeping governance reforms for municipally owned electricity distribution utilities and their holding companies, mandating independent boards and new capital planning requirements by 2027. These changes aim to attract institutional investment for $120 billion in infrastructure expansion, but will require utilities to restructure shareholder agreements, recruit new directors, and implement complex governance arrangements within an extremely compressed timeline.
CanadaCorporate/Commercial Law
Aird & Berlis LLP
Aird & Berlis LLP
Article

Canada’s OpenAI Findings: What Businesses Need To Know About AI And Privacy Compliance

Canadian privacy regulators have completed a joint investigation into OpenAI's ChatGPT, examining whether the company's collection, use, and disclosure of personal information complies with federal and provincial private-sector privacy legislation. The investigation involved the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada alongside regulators from Quebec, British Columbia, and Alberta, scrutinizing OpenAI's practices in developing and operating its AI chatbot platform.
CanadaPrivacy
Aird & Berlis LLP
Aird & Berlis LLP
Article

Holdback Deficiencies And Mortgage Priority: Court Of Appeal For Ontario Clarifies S. 78(2) Of The Construction Act

The Court of Appeal for Ontario has resolved a critical uncertainty in construction law regarding how holdback deficiencies should be calculated when owners fail to retain statutory holdbacks. The decision addresses whether contractors who have already been paid can claim additional priority over construction mortgages, and establishes important boundaries to prevent double recovery while balancing the interests of all parties in the construction pyramid.
CanadaReal Estate and Construction
Aird & Berlis LLP
Aird & Berlis LLP
Article

Powering Intelligence: Secured Lending In The AI Infrastructure Economy

As artificial intelligence adoption surges across Canadian enterprises—from 6.1% to 19.2% in just two years—the infrastructure demands are creating unprecedented opportunities in AI data centre development. Meta's $13-billion Alberta facility signals Canada's emergence as a major player, but what legal and commercial complexities must lenders, sponsors and investors navigate in this capital-intensive asset class?
CanadaFinance and Banking
Aird & Berlis LLP
Aird & Berlis LLP