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Quebec and Ottawa Agree to Streamline Environmental Assessments
The plan would cut duplicate reviews for 5 to 10 Quebec projects a year and open a 21-day consultation period.
On Monday, Quebec Environment Minister Pascale Déry and Quebec Lieutenant Joël Lightbound announced a draft agreement with Ottawa introducing a "one project, one review" approach for major environmental assessments.
Officials aim to reduce administrative duplication to provide investors with greater predictability; Déry stated Quebec's existing environmental regime already meets high standards.
Currently, five to 10 projects in Quebec annually require dual federal and provincial assessments; the proposal is open for public comment until August 10.
Quebec would become the eighth province to adopt such cooperation, following Prime Minister Mark Carney's commitment last November to pursue agreements where provincial processes provide equivalent oversight.
Following a 21-day public consultation this summer, authorities may formally adopt the agreement, aiming to accelerate project timelines while maintaining rigorous environmental protections.
The Carney government has entered into an agreement-in-principle with Quebec City to simplify environmental assessments for projects that fall within the jurisdiction of the provinces. The goal is: a project, an assessment, a single environmental decision.