ID: 2020
Presenting Author: Geneviève Bélanger
Session: 763 - FD3 The issue-based approach: Towards a more readable, credible, and useful environmental assessment
Status: pending
The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada identifies key issues early using clear criteria—federal relevance, project link, and significant concerns—to guide focused assessments.
To strengthen the federal impact assessment process, the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada is adopting a targeted approach focused on identifying key issues early. This method improves clarity, predictability, and relevance for project proponents, Indigenous communities, and stakeholders.
Key issues are major concerns about potential adverse effects under federal jurisdiction or matters central to determining whether those effects are in the public interest. Their identification follows a structured process that starts early and continues throughout the assessment.
Three criteria guide this process: relevance to federal decisions, a clear link to the project, and significant concerns raised by Indigenous communities, stakeholders, or the public. By concentrating on these issues, the Agency offers focused guidance, modernizes input requests, and supports proponents and Indigenous groups.
Each key issue must be specific, traceable through a pathway of effect, and linked to a valued environmental component under federal jurisdiction. This focus helps streamline assessments, tailor guidance, and modernize engagement.
Examples like the Sainte-Marguerite-3 hydroelectric upgrade and the Shaakichiuwaanaan mining project show how this approach fosters strategic, collaborative assessments. Sharing these experiences encourages dialogue and continuous improvement in identifying and addressing what matters most.
Geneviève Bélanger, Associate Regional Director, Quebec, Impact Assessment Agency of Canada since 2024, following a series of roles at IAAC in delivering impact assessment since 2014