Phase 1 – Planning

Submission of Initial Project Description

Before the Planning phase begins, proponents will refer to the Physical Activities Regulations (the Project List) to determine whether their project is a designated project under the IAA. If so, the proponent will create an Initial Project Description that conforms to requirements in the Information and Management of Time Limits Regulations.

Does it conform to the Regulations?

Upon submission of the Initial Project Description, the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (the Agency) must answer the question: “Does the initial project description meet the requirements of the Regulations?” If it does not conform to the Regulations, the Agency will ask the proponent to resubmit the project description and/or missing information. If it does conform to the Regulations, the Agency will accept the Initial Project Description, and post it on the Canadian Impact Assessment Registry, and the 180-day Planning phase will officially begin.

Summary of Issues

The Agency will consult with federal authorities and engage with the public, Indigenous peoples, and other jurisdictions to develop a list of issues related to the designated project that participants see as relevant or of concern. The Agency will use this information to write the Summary of Issues.

Detailed Project Description including Response to the Summary of Issues

The proponent will then create a Detailed Project Description that conforms to requirements in the Information and Management of Time Limits Regulations and includes their Response to the Summary of Issues.

The Agency will take into account the Summary of Issues and the response provided by proponents as well as the Detailed Project Description and other factors to determine whether an impact assessment is required for the project.

Next Steps

If an impact assessment is not required, the proponent may proceed with the project, subject to other federal, provincial or Indigenous requirements that may exist. If an impact assessment is required, the Agency will develop plans to guide the assessment and the Tailored Impact Statement Guidelines. These plans and guidelines will be defined later in this module.

The Agency’s decision whether an impact assessment is required for the designated project is based on:

• The Initial Project Description, and the Detailed Project Description that includes the proponent’s Response to the Summary of Issues
• Any adverse effects within federal jurisdiction, and adverse effects resulting from a federal decision
• Any adverse impacts that the designated project may have on the rights of Indigenous peoples
• Any comments from the public, jurisdictions, or Indigenous peoples
• Any relevant strategic or regional assessment under the IAA, or regional study prepared by a jurisdiction
• Any other factor the Agency considers relevant

The Agency must post a notice of decision and the reasons on the Registry.

Document prepared by the proponent that provides preliminary information about a designated project and includes the prescribed information set out in the Information and Management of Time Limits Regulations. It identifies the location, local communities and Indigenous groups that may be affected.

Document prepared by the Impact Assessment Agency to summarize issues raised through the initial engagement processes during the Planning phase. This document provides the proponent, and other participants, with a summary of the comments received by the Agency in relation to the Initial Project Description and allows participants to see how their comments and concerns have been characterized.

Document prepared by the proponent containing information prescribed by the Information and Management of Time Limits Regulations about the designated project including information about possible environmental, social, health and economic effects of the designated project and any changes made in response to the Summary of Issues.

Information prepared by the proponent and included in the Detailed Project Description that sets out how it intends to address the issues described in the Summary of Issues.