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ARTICLE · 14 MAY 2024

Balancing Jurisdictions: Proposed Changes To Canada's Impact Assessment Act

Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
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Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP

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The Government of Canada has proposed amendments to the federal Impact Assessment Act (IAA) it says are intended to ensure the IAA is constitutionally sound while balancing environmental protection and development goals.

CanadaGovernment, Public Sector
Charles Kazaz
Charles Kazaz
Jonathan Kahn
Jonathan Kahn
Lana Finney
Lana Finney
Humna Wasim (Articling Student)
Humna Wasim (Articling Student)
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The Government of Canada has proposed amendments to the federal Impact Assessment Act (IAA) it says are intended to ensure the IAA is constitutionally sound while balancing environmental protection and development goals.

The proposed amendments are set out in the Budget Implementation Act, 2024, No. 1, which seeks to implement the government's key commitments in the 2024 federal budget. They aim to address a recent advisory opinion by the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) that opined that portions of the IAA related to major project review are unconstitutional because they encroach on matters within provincial jurisdiction. See our October 2023 Blakes Bulletin: SCC Rules Federal Impact Assessment Act's "Designated Projects" Component is Unconstitutional to learn more.

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