Analysis

The Impact Statement provides the proponent’s analysis of the positive and adverse effects as required in the Tailored Impact Statement Guidelines (Guidelines). The impact assessment factors that were scoped and detailed in the Guidelines during the Planning phase are not limited to effects within federal jurisdiction. The proponent’s analysis will include:

Select each item for more information.

Item 1

Potential effects to valued components, including information about the possible environmental, social, health and economic effects of the project.

Item 2

Potential impacts on Indigenous peoples and their rights.

Item 3

Proposed measures to mitigate adverse effects.

Several guidance documents are provided by the Agency to support the proponent in the analysis of the impact assessment factors. As mentioned, the Guidelines provided to each proponent are tailored specifically for its project and are the primary direction for all information required. However, additional guidance documents are available to provide support to proponents on how impact assessment factors should be integrated in the Impact Statement. These guidance documents can be found in the Practitioner’s Guide to Federal Impact Assessments under the Impact Assessment Act and Policy and Guidance.

Glossary: Effects within Federal Jurisdiction, Impact Assessment Factors, Tailored Impact Statement Guidelines, Valued Component

Effects within Federal Jurisdiction

Effects within federal jurisdiction are defined in section 2 of the Impact Assessment Act.

In general, they are effects related to a physical activity or a designated project that change:

  1. environmental components within the legislative authority of Parliament such as fish, other aquatic species or migratory birds;
  2. the environment on federal lands, in another province or outside Canada;
  3. the environment in a way that impacts Indigenous peoples of Canada through impacts to their physical and cultural heritage, their current use of lands and resources for traditional purposes, or any structure, site or thing that is of historical, archaeological, paleontological or architectural significance;
  4. the health, social or economic conditions of the Indigenous peoples of Canada; and
  5. a health, social or economic matter that is within the legislative authority of Parliament.

Impact Assessment Factors

Factors To Be Considered

Factors — impact assessment

22 (1) The impact assessment of a designated project, whether it is conducted by the Agency or a review panel, must take into account the following factors:

  1. the changes to the environment or to health, social or economic conditions and the positive and negative consequences of these changes that are likely to be caused by the carrying out of the designated project, including
    1. the effects of malfunctions or accidents that may occur in connection with the designated project,
    2. any cumulative effects that are likely to result from the designated project in combination with other physical activities that have been or will be carried out, and
    3. the result of any interaction between those effects;
  2. mitigation measures that are technically and economically feasible and that would mitigate any adverse effects of the designated project;
  3. the impact that the designated project may have on any Indigenous group and any adverse impact that the designated project may have on the rights of the Indigenous peoples of Canada recognized and affirmed by section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982;
  4. the purpose of and need for the designated project;
  5. alternative means of carrying out the designated project that are technically and economically feasible, including through the use of best available technologies, and the effects of those means;
  6. any alternatives to the designated project that are technically and economically feasible and are directly related to the designated project;
  7. Indigenous knowledge provided with respect to the designated project;
  8. the extent to which the designated project contributes to sustainability;
  9. the extent to which the effects of the designated project hinder or contribute to the Government of Canada’s ability to meet its environmental obligations and its commitments in respect of climate change;
  10. any change to the designated project that may be caused by the environment;
  11. the requirements of the follow-up program in respect of the designated project;
  12. considerations related to Indigenous cultures raised with respect to the designated project;
  13. community knowledge provided with respect to the designated project;
  14. comments received from the public;
  15. comments from a jurisdiction that are received in the course of consultations conducted under section 21;
  16. any relevant assessment referred to in section 92, 93 or 95;
  17. any assessment of the effects of the designated project that is conducted by or on behalf of an Indigenous governing body and that is provided with respect to the designated project;
  18. any study or plan that is conducted or prepared by a jurisdiction — or an Indigenous governing body not referred to in paragraph (f) or (g) of the definition jurisdiction in section 2 — that is in respect of a region related to the designated project and that has been provided with respect to the project;
  19. the intersection of sex and gender with other identity factors; and
  20. any other matter relevant to the impact assessment that the Agency requires to be taken into account.

Tailored Impact Statement Guidelines

Document that provides direction and requirements for the proponent in preparing an Impact Statement. The Tailored Impact Statement Guidelines detail all information and studies that the Agency or a review panel will require to conduct the impact assessment.

Valued Component

Environmental, health, social, economic and potentially other elements of the natural and human environment that is identified as having scientific, social, cultural, economic, historical, archaeological or aesthetic importance.

The value of a component may be determined on the basis of cultural ideals or scientific concern. Valued components that have the potential to interact with project components should be included in the assessment of effects