The federal and New Brunswick provincial governments have inked a deal to enhance the coordination of their environmental impact assessments. New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt, during the announcement on Tuesday, emphasized the importance of providing clear direction to major project proponents while eliminating redundancy in the environmental impact process. She highlighted the province’s dedication to safeguarding its picturesque landscapes and underscored the meticulous and established nature of the provincial environmental impact assessment process.
The agreement entails the establishment of an expert review panel comprising local, provincial, and federal agencies to facilitate a unified approach termed as “one project, one review.” Holt expressed satisfaction that the federal government has acknowledged the strength of the province and collaborated to streamline the review process, reducing duplication and ensuring coordination.
Involvement of First Nations in the process was also highlighted. Federal Internal Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc, who represents New Brunswick as an MP, commended the agreement, noting that New Brunswick is the first province to sign such a pact since negotiations commenced in the summer. The aim is to enhance Canada’s economic resilience across all regions by eliminating duplication in assessments for major projects in New Brunswick.
New Brunswick Environment Minister Gilles LePage emphasized that the agreement will offer enhanced clarity to project proponents throughout the environmental assessment process. Addressing concerns about potential reduced scrutiny, Premier Holt assured that projects would still undergo rigorous scrutiny with multiple layers of oversight as before. The announcement is not expected to impact the already approved Sisson Mine project near Fredericton, given its existing conditions.
In response to queries about affected projects, Holt mentioned the Mount Pleasant mining project at Lake George. The agreement signifies a significant step towards efficient and coordinated environmental assessments for major projects in the region.