Review Canada's environmental assessment processes.

What success looks like

Environmental assessment processes that are fair to all parties, rely on scientific evidence, respect the rights of Indigenous Peoples and protect the environment for generations to come.

Government's narrative on progress

Following an extensive review of Canada's environmental assessment processes, the government tabled proposed legislation in February 2018 that will build a new impact assessment and regulatory system for Canada, including the proposed *Impact Assessment Act*. This new system is fair, based on science, respects the rights of Indigenous peoples, provides certainty to businesses and protects the environment and human health for generations to come. Its development was informed by expert panels and Parliamentary committee reports, a federal discussion paper, parliamentary studies, and almost two years of consultations with Indigenous peoples, industry, provinces and territories, non-government organizations, academia and the public. These reforms are based on the guiding principles of predictable processes that build on what works, partnership with Indigenous peoples at every stage of the process, early and inclusive public engagement; timely, evidence-based decisions reflecting the best available science and Indigenous knowledge; and one assessment for one project, with the scale of assessment aligned with the scale of the potential impacts of the project. The government also announced in 2018 that it will invest about $1 billion over five years to support the proposed new impact assessment system and Canadian Energy Regulator, increase federal scientific capacity, implement the changes required to protect water, fish and navigation, and increase Indigenous and public participation. During the review of the proposed *Impact Assessment Act*, the House of Commons amended the proposed legislation to provide greater clarity and certainty with respect to impact assessment, strengthen public participation and consideration of science and Indigenous knowledge in assessments, and reflect the government’s commitment to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The proposed legislation is currently before the Senate for review. In December 2018 the Bill was referred to the Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources following second reading in the Senate. The Standing Committee began hearing from witnesses in February and will travel throughout April to continue to hear from witnesses. The Committee has confirmed that it will provide its report to the Senate by May 9, 2019.

Note: this is the government's own description, not an independent assessment.