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ARTICLE · 29 JULY 2026

Québec-Canada Agreement: Toward A Single Environmental Assessment For Major Projects

Quebec and Canada have published a draft environmental assessment agreement that would establish a "one project, one assessment, one decision" framework for major projects in the province. The proposed cooperation agreement would eliminate the need for separate federal impact assessments for non-federal projects, instead relying on Quebec's existing Environment Quality Act process administered by BAPE. This streamlined approach differs from other provincial agreements and could significantly reduce approval

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On July 20, 2026, the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) published the Draft Agreement Between Québec and Canada Concerning the Environment Quality Act and the Impact Assessment Act Within Québec’s Territory.1 Announced jointly by the Honourable Joël Lightbound, federal Minister of Government Transformation and Lieutenant for Québec, and the Honourable Pascale Déry, Québec Minister of the Environment, the draft agreement establishes the principle of “one project, one assessment, one decision.” If finalized, the agreement would make Québec the eighth province to enter into a cooperation agreement with the federal government on environmental assessments, following British Columbia, New Brunswick, Ontario, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Alberta and Manitoba.2 It is intended to implement the principles of cooperative federalism in the context of environmental assessments, while respecting the constitutional division of powers between Québec and Canada.

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The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.

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