OTTAWA The governments of CANADA and ONTARIO have signed an agreement on environmental assessment intended to make the process more efficient when projects are reviewed by agencies of both jurisdictions.
The agreement maintains the current level of environmental standards and the legislative and decision-making responsibilities of both governments. While projects requiring both provincial and federal environmental assessment approvals will still require separate approvals, decisions will be based on the same body of information and there will be an ability to make decisions concurrently.
The federal government currently has environmental assessment co-operation agreements with British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Quebec and the Yukon.
Copies of the agreement can be viewed on the websites of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency at www.ceaa-acee.gc.ca , or the Ontario Ministry of the Environment at www.ene.gov.on.ca. A backgrounder and questions and answers are also available.
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