ELC publishes Model for Harmonized Provincial Environmental and Sustainability Assessment

The Environmental Law Centre has published its Model for Harmonized Provincial Environmental and Sustainability Assessment:

In recent years, federal environmental assessment law has undergone radical changes resulting in a reduced number and scope of federal environmental assessment.  Consequently, the provinces are positioned to take a greater role in environmental assessment as the federal government takes a step back. In light of a reduced federal role, the province to province cooperation and coordination can play a greater role. This may include expansion of regional environmental assessment and strategic environmental assessment within and across provinces.

This report builds upon the ELC's publication A Model Environmental and Sustainability Assessment Law by establishing the criteria necessary for successful province to province cooperation and coordination.  As well, this report explores the means by which a province can implement regional environmental assessment and strategic environmental assessment within their own borders and cooperatively with other provinces.  Recognizing that ecological regions and policy decisions may not respect political boundaries, moving beyond traditional project based environmental assessment and creating broader frameworks for decision-making requires province to province cooperation and coordination.