Quebec and Canada sign agreement to streamline environmental assessments for major projects

Quebec and the federal government reached a principle agreement on July 20 to replace duplicate environmental reviews with a single "one project, one assessment, one decision" process for large infrastructure and resource projects. The pact applies Quebec's environmental assessment regime to projects under provincial jurisdiction, such as mines, ports and pipelines, and opens a 21‑day public and Indigenous comment period ending August 10.

Regional officials expressed mixed reactions. Interim president of the Côte‑Nord MRCs, Micheline Anctil, welcomed the simplification while urging caution to maintain rigorous standards. Scientist André Michel warned that the shift could undermine Indigenous rights and environmental safeguards. Industry groups praised the move for greater predictability, whereas environmental organisations like the Société pour la nature et les parcs remain uneasy about the potential loss of protection.