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Carney government scales back federal reviews for major energy projects
The government says the shift will cut duplicate reviews, while environmental groups warn it will weaken scrutiny of climate and Indigenous-rights impacts.
- On Wednesday, the federal government published new regulations in the Canada Gazette exempting pipelines, oil sands, and transmission lines from Impact Assessment Agency of Canada review, transferring sole assessment authority to the Canada Energy Regulator .
- The changes follow Bill C-5, passed after the 2025 election to fast-track major projects deemed in the national interest; public consultations on the reforms concluded in July, with the report published on Tuesday.
- Heather Exner-Pirot, director of energy, natural resources and environment at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, called the change 'great news' for industry. Environmental Defence spokesperson Julia Levin stated, 'There was no forewarning of this decision,' criticizing the government for lacking transparency.
- Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic Leblanc announced the regulatory shift via press release; sources indicate the move aims to expedite the West Coast Oil pipeline proposal backed by Alberta and Ottawa before Parliament resumes.
- Ottawa estimates the amendments reduce designated projects from about 10 annually to seven or eight. However, the 'What We Heard' report details stakeholder concerns that transferring responsibilities weakens scrutiny of climate impacts, Indigenous rights, and cumulative effects.
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Ottawa strips oil sands, pipelines from Impact Assessment Act review ahead of investment summit
Prime Minister Mark Carney's government published regulations Wednesday removing oil sands extraction, some pipelines and transmission lines from federal Impact Assessment Act review, handing sole oversight of those projects to the Canada Energy Regulator under its one-project, one-review pledge.
·Toronto, Canada
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Liberals remove layer of review process for energy projects, backing off bypassing at-risk species protections
The federal government is moving ahead with changes that will exempt a number of energy projects from a layer of its environmental assessment process. At the same time, a senior government source says the Liberals are preparing to back down on proposed changes that would have bypassed regulations meant to protect at-risk species.
·Ottawa, Canada
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Total News Sources11
Leaning Left3Leaning Right2Center4Last UpdatedBias Distribution45% Center
Bias Distribution
- 45% of the sources are Center
45% Center
L 33%
C 45%
R 22%
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