The Impact Assessment Act was amended with the goal of streamlining efficiency and ensuring the Act was more constitutionally sound. The amendments aim to promote substitution of the federal impact process with other equivalent provincial processes where applicable and to further clarify the parameters for when an impact assessment is required. Topics of discussion will include:

• Defining what impacts constitute adverse effects within federal jurisdiction
• Debating if removing GHG emissions from federal impact assessments has expedited project approvals
• Examining if deference to provincial impact assessments in certain areas may reduce inter-provincial trade barriers