Overview
- Federal and Quebec ministers posted a draft agreement to align Quebec’s Environment Quality Act with the federal Impact Assessment Act and create one coordinated assessment process for major projects.
- Under the proposal each major project would receive a single environmental assessment and one government decision, which officials say will speed delivery and reduce uncertainty for investors.
- The draft is open for a 21-day public and Indigenous consultation and the final agreement will depend on feedback and further negotiations.
- Quebec says the deal will respect strong environmental safeguards and existing Indigenous decision and consultation processes, including the James Bay and Northeastern Quebec agreements.
- Conservation groups have voiced concern about the short summer consultation window and the government’s recent push to fast-track projects, even as Ottawa points to similar pacts already reached with several other provinces.