Canada streamlines major project and pipeline reviews

The Canadian federal government and the province of Newfoundland and Labrador have entered into a co-operation agreement regarding environmental and impact assessments. This agreement implements a ‘one project, one review’ approach designed to streamline assessment processes and minimize duplication for projects subject to both provincial and federal oversight.

As part of broader federal regulatory reforms, certain energy projects—including interprovincial and international pipelines, power lines, and specific offshore renewable projects—have been removed from the Impact Assessment Act. These projects will now be reviewed solely by the Canada Energy Regulator (CER) under the Canadian Energy Regulator Act. The government stated this move aims to provide a simpler, single-regulator process and meet a commitment to make major project decisions within two years.

The reforms are intended to increase regulatory certainty and attract infrastructure investment. While the federal Impact Assessment Act no longer covers these specific projects, the government maintains that environmental and regulatory oversight will continue through the CER, provincial regulators, and other federal requirements, including the protection of Indigenous rights.