The New IAA in Canada: From Revolutionary Thoughts to Reality

Abstract

Canada started a review of its discredited impact assessment process in 2015. A new impact assessment Bill was eventually introduced to the House of Commons in early 2018 and passed in 2019. Key provisions of the resulting IAA 2019 include a sustainability orientation, an early planning stage, a climate test, and a gender-based assessment requirement. Despite these positive changes, the IAA 2019 still draws heavily on flawed elements the previous federal process (CEAA 2012) for its basic structure and approach and falls well short of expectations. This article explores both the innovations and the shortcomings of the new Act.

Keywords: environmental assessment, impact assessment, law reform, environmental impact assessment, Canada