Government of Canada Streamlines Project Assessments to strengthen one Canadian economy

OTTAWA, ON, Sept. 9, 2026 /CNW/ -- Canada is building big, building fast, and building responsibly to create a stronger, more resilient and sovereign Canadian economy. As part of this effort, the Government of Canada is modernizing Canada's regulatory and permitting framework to make the process faster and more predictable. 

Today, the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, President of the King's Privy Council for Canada and Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade, Intergovernmental Affairs, Internal Trade and One Canadian Economy, the Honourable Tim Hodgson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, and the Honourable Julie Dabrusin, Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Nature, announced amendments to the Physical Activities Regulations (the Project List) under the Impact Assessment Act (IAA).

The amendments will streamline the review process for certain projects, including pipelines, new international power lines and designated interprovincial power lines, and certain offshore renewable energy projects, while maintaining robust environmental protections and upholding the rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Interprovincial and international pipelines, international and designated interprovincial power lines and offshore renewable energy projects not regulated by the offshore energy regulators will now be reviewed through a rigorous and comprehensive assessment process managedby the Canada Energy Regulator (CER), Canada's expert lifecycle regulator, rather than through an integrated review panel assessment.

In situ oil sands extraction facilities and fossil fuel-fired power generating facilities are being removed from the Project List to ensure federal impact assessments remain wholly focused on major projects with the greatest potential to cause adverse effects within federal jurisdiction, in alignment with amendments to the IAA made in response to Reference re Impact Assessment Act.

These projects and facilities will continue to be subject to equally robust applicable provincial and federal assessment processes, including environmental assessment and ensuring the Crown's constitutional duty to consult and accommodate Indigenous Peoples is met as guided by the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the UN Declaration Act.

The CER has expertise conducting impact assessments that review a project's effects on a range of environmental factors, including air, water, soil, climate change, wildlife, species at risk, and Canada's environmental obligations. The CER also evaluates socio-economic considerations of projects such as impacts on employment, health, Indigenous rights, cultural well-being, and resource use, taking an integrated approach that recognizes the close links between environmental and socio-economic effects. The amendments will create a more efficient, predictable and transparent regulatory framework for major natural resource and infrastructure projects to help attract and catalyze investment and ensure Canada remains competitive and agile in an increasingly uncertain global landscape. These changes are part of the Government of Canada's broader plan to accelerate nation-building projects and position Canada as a stronger, more sovereign, and more prosperous nation.

Following a nationwide engagement process from May 8 to July 22, 2026, the Government has heard from Indigenous Peoples, provinces and territories, stakeholders and Canadians. This feedback is helping to shape the development and implementation of regulatory, policy and legislative changes, including to the Physical Activities Regulations. What We Heard Reports have been published today, and the Government intends to introduce legislation this fall.

Quotes

"Canada's economy thrives when we build major projects and modernize our supply chains. These changes are a critical step toward creating a regulatory system that supports investment and remains committed to meaningful engagement with Indigenous Peoples, and working collaboratively with provinces, territories, industry, stakeholders, and Canadians as we advance our plan to build a stronger, more competitive, and more resilient economy."

-  The Honourable Dominic LeBlanc
President of the King's Privy Council for Canada and Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade, Intergovernmental Affairs, Internal Trade and One Canadian Economy,

"Protecting our environment and upholding the rights of Indigenous peoples are at the heart of every impact assessment we undertake. As Canada builds, our government will continue to deliver the rigorous review and meaningful consultation that Canadians count on."

-  The Honourable Julie Dabrusin
Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Nature

"Canada has what the world wants, and we need to get those products to domestic and international markets, faster. These changes will create a more efficient and predictable regulatory system for major projects, reducing duplication while maintaining strong environmental protections and respect for Indigenous rights. To make it easier to build major projects, we're not lowering standards, but raising competence – so we can catalyze investment, unlock our abundant resource vase, create good jobs for Canadians and strengthen Canada's economy at a time when economic competitiveness matters more than ever."

-  The Honourable Tim Hodgson
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources

Quick Facts

• The CER is a lifecycle regulator with over 30 years of expertise conducting environmental and socio-economic impact assessments. The CER is committed to safety, maintaining robust environmental protections and respecting the rights of Indigenous Peoples. 
• The Canadian Energy Regulator Act (CERA) was introduced in 2019, expanding on factors considered in project assessments consistent with those used by the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) under the Impact Assessment Act (IAA). This may include consideration of: 
  • The extent to which effects hinder or contribute to Canada's ability to meet its environmental obligations and climate commitments, 
  • The health, social and socio-economic effects, including with respect to intersection of sex and gender with other identity factors (GBA+ analysis),
  • Environmental effects, including cumulative effects, 
  • Safety and security of persons and the protection of property and the environment, 
  • Interests and concerns of Indigenous Peoples, including their use of lands and resources for traditional purposes, and 
  • Effects on the rights of Indigenous Peoples. 
• CERA also introduced modernized governance, updated project review timelines, identified the CER as an Agent of the Crown, enhanced Indigenous engagement and participation, more inclusive public participation and new authorities related to safety and environmental protection.
• Indigenous Peoples are consulted throughout CER project reviews by sharing evidence, Indigenous Knowledge, and oral or written submissions, with participant funding available to support their involvement.

Relevant Links:

• Gazette posting 
• Building Canada Strong – Bigger, faster, for all
• Fact Sheet: Impact Assessments - How the CER looks at environmental and socio-economic impacts for project

SOURCE President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade, Intergovernmental Affairs and One Canadian Economy

Contacts, For more information (media only), please contact: Gabriel Brunet, Press Secretary and Senior Communications Advisor, Office of the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, President of the King's Privy Council for Canada and Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade, Intergovernmental Affairs, Internal Trade and One Canadian Economy, 819-665-6527, [email protected]; Media Relations, Privy Council Office, 613-957-5420, [email protected]; Canada Energy Regulator, [email protected]; Keean Nembhard, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of the Environment, Climate Change and Nature, 343-552-2387, [email protected]; Media Relations, Impact Assessment Agency of Canada, [email protected]