ID: 90
Presenting Author: Marie-Emmanuelle Rail
Status: approve
How can impact assessment stay credible and efficient in fast-changing times? Québec’s modernization offers insights for the next generation of EIA systems.
Québec has recently modernized its Environmental Impact Assessment and Review Procedure (EIARP), a long-standing framework that supports transparent and informed decision-making on major projects. Known for its independent Office of Public Hearings on the Environment (Bureau d’audiences publiques sur l’environnement – BAPE) and for government decisions grounded in both expert analysis and public input, including First Nations, the system has earned strong credibility over time. However, evolving environmental, social, and economic contexts highlighted the need to adapt the process to remain effective and relevant. The modernization seeks to improve efficiency and clarity while preserving the procedure’s scientific rigour and participatory strengths. It better targets what truly needs to be assessed, adapts impact study guidelines to each project, and integrates Indigenous and local community concerns from the start. Public and First Nations participation will now be embedded earlier in the process, enabling more meaningful dialogue and better project design. This evolution reflects Québec’s commitment to transparent governance, sustainable development, and improved decision-making—positioning its model as a continuously innovative example on the international stage.
Marie-Emmanuelle Rail, team leader at Quebec's Ministry of Environment, in charge of the major modernization of the environmental assessment procedure.