Overview
- The federal government released discussion papers outlining a broad rewrite of project approvals and opened a 30‑day consultation before introducing legislation.
- The plan would put a one‑year legal limit on federal impact assessments and allow permits to be processed at the same time as reviews to shorten waits.
- Pipeline reviews would move to the Canada Energy Regulator, with the Governor in Council deciding early if long routes are in the public interest before detailed technical work begins.
- Ottawa proposes a Crown consultation hub inside the Impact Assessment Agency to coordinate the duty to consult Indigenous communities, though how a year‑long review fits longer consultations remains unclear.
- The package also floats economic zones with cabinet pre‑approvals and easier species‑at‑risk offsets, including case‑by‑case exemptions, drawing support from industry and sharp concern from environmental advocates.