In response to the federal government’s commitment to review Canada’s environmental assessment (EA) processes, in 2016 the Minister of Environment and Climate Change appointed an Expert Panel to lead a comprehensive review of EA law and processes. In April 2017 – following months of engagement with experts, industry, First Nations and the public – the Expert Panel released its report and recommended a number of reforms to strengthen assessments in Canada.

The government is expected to introduce new environmental assessment legislation before the end of 2017. In anticipation of that legislation, West Coast Environmental Law is hosting a second Federal EA Reform Summit in Ottawa, gathering experts from across Canada to continue the discussion about implementing a next-generation environmental assessment law.

For more information and outcomes from the first Federal EA Reform Summit (in May 2016), click here.

Please see below for the agenda and materials for discussion at the summit.

AGENDA

 Please find the draft agenda here. A final copy will be provided at the Summit.

DISCUSSION DOCUMENTS

These consolidated discussion documents are intended to inform and guide the discussions in each session. They have been prepared in collaboration by the Environmental Planning Caucus of the Canadian Environmental Network and reflect the thinking and consensus of dozens of EA experts across Canada.

Please note that two discussion documents have been revised:

"Early planning, necessary committees and ongoing participation" builds on Discussion Document 7 - Meaningful Public Participation and will form part of the basis of the Session Six discussions.

"Sustainability-based assessment requirements, including criteria, for new federal assessment law and process" builds on Discussion Document 6 - Sustainability Assessment and will be the basis for the Session Five discussions.

In addition to the above, you may find the following useful:

Organizational chart for Discussion Document 1 - Governance

Process of project EA diagram

"Paddling Together: Co-Governance Models for Regional Cumulative Effects Management" (West Coast Environmental Law, 2017).

"Paddling Together - Appendix: Terminology" (West Coast Environmental Law, 2017)