Implementing The Environment Quality Act – Quebec Government Publishes 24 Draft Regulations

On February 14, 2018, the Government of Quebec published 24 draft regulations that seek to implement amendments to the Environment Quality Act (EQA), as part of the modernization of its environmental approval scheme. The new draft regulations follow the publication of the draft Regulation respecting the environmental impact assessment and review of certain projects on December 13, 2017.

These regulations, that are needed to give effect to the new EQA provisions, were initially scheduled to come into force on March 23, 2018. Instead, the government has postponed the implementation date of these regulations to December 1, 2018. Despite the postponement, the new EQA provisions will still come into force on the original date, subject to certain terms.