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Environmental Assessment

Transport Canada’s Environmental Assessment (EA) program is one of the three Environmental Management programs under the National Environmental Management System.


The EA program evaluates the environmental effects of projects, in accordance with the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA) and other federal EA processes in the Northwest Territories, Yukon, and Nunavut. We conduct EAs for proposed projects by proponents as well as for our own operations. An EA is a systematic way to identify the environmental effects (positive or negative) of a project proposal before they occur. This allows those involved in the project to modify the project to prevent, minimize, or manage harmful environmental effects. The EA process is an important planning and decision-making tool for pursuing sustainable development.

At Transport Canada, we also incorporate environmental concerns into planning and policy decision-making through Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA). SEAs are conducted pursuant to the Cabinet Directive on the Environmental Assessment of Policy, Plan and Program Proposals.



Types of Environmental Assessments

Under the CEAA, there are three types of EAs that can be undertaken: screenings, comprehensive studies and review panels. Panels can also be subject to mediation if there are unresolved issues related to environmental effects or public concerns.

The vast majority of CEAA assessments are screenings. While the term "screening" may suggest a cursory review, screenings involve the systematic assessment of environmental effects and mitigation measures in order for a responsible authority (such as Transport Canada) to make a decision on the significance of environmental effects and whether or not to take action in support of the project. Screenings are considered self-directed assessments.

All projects are subject to a screening unless they are identified on the Comprehensive Study List Regulations. Projects on the Comprehensive Study List Regulations are typically large-scale undertakings and for this reason a more intensive assessment is required. The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency conducts comprehensive studies, except for projects regulated by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission or the National Energy Board.

The Minister of the Environment may refer a screening or a comprehensive study to a review panel in certain instances (e.g. where public concerns warrant).

Transport Canada also participates in four different EA processes established pursuant to Northern Land Claims Agreements: the Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Act; the MacKenzie Valley Resource Management Act; the Inuvialuit Final Agreement; and the Nunavut Land Claim Agreement.



Canadian Environmental Assessment Act information

The CEAA is federal legislation that applies to any federal authority, such as Transport Canada, that is considering taking a specific action in support of a project. CEAA came into force in 1995. Since then, CEAA amendments were made in 2003 and again in 2010 through the Jobs and Economic Growth Act.

CEAA and its associated regulations outline the responsibilities, requirements and procedures for the EA of projects and establish a process for assessing the potential environmental effects of projects in which the Government of Canada has a decision-making responsibility.

The purposes of CEAA are:

  • to ensure that projects are considered in a careful and precautionary manner before federal authorities take action in connection with them, in order to ensure that such projects do not cause significant adverse environmental effects;
  • to encourage responsible authorities to take actions that promote sustainable development and thereby achieve or maintain a healthy environment and a healthy economy;
  • to ensure that responsible authorities carry out their responsibilities in a coordinated manner with a view to eliminating unnecessary duplication in the EA process;
  • to promote cooperation and coordinated action between federal and provincial governments with respect to EA processes for projects;
  • to promote communication and cooperation between responsible authorities and Aboriginal peoples with respect to EA;
  • to ensure that projects that are to be carried out in Canada or on federal lands do not cause significant adverse environmental effects outside the jurisdictions in which the projects are carried out; and
  • to ensure that there be opportunities for timely and meaningful public participation throughout the EA process.

The Act is founded on the following guiding principles:

  • to achieve sustainable development by promoting high quality EA;
  • to integrate environmental factors into planning and decision-making processes; to anticipate and prevent degradation of environmental quality; and
  • to facilitate public participation in the EA of projects where the federal government is involved.

A list of Transport Canada's EAs is available on the Canadian Environmental Assessment Registry.



Environmental Assessment under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act

Transport Canada conducts EAs for proposed projects in accordance with the CEAA and other federal EA processes in the Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Yukon. Environmental Management staff work with the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency and other agencies and departments to ensure the appropriate application of CEAA and the northern EA processes to projects involving Transport Canada, as well as provide guidance and training to departmental staff on EA requirements. Under CEAA, Transport Canada is required to undertake an EA for proposed projects relating to a physical work and for any proposed physical activity listed in the Inclusion List Regulations where it proposes to exercise one or more of the following CEAA triggers:

  • Proposes or undertakes a project;
  • Grants money or any other form of financial assistance to a project;
  • Grants an interest in the land to enable a project to be carried out; and
  • Exercises a regulatory duty in relation to a project by issuing a permit or license that is included in the Law List Regulations.

Currently, Transport Canada grants approvals under the relevant subsections of the Navigable Waters Protection Act (NWPA), the National Energy Board Act, the Railway Safety Act, the Aeronautics Act, and the Federal Real Property Regulations under Federal Real Property and Federal Immovables Act. For more information on the NWPA, please consult the Navigable Waters Protections Program Web page.

If Transport Canada exercises one or more of the above-mentioned triggers, it becomes a responsible authority under CEAA. As a responsible authority, Transport Canada must ensure that an EA is carried out in accordance with CEAA and must consider the EA findings before a decision is made whether or not to allow the project to proceed. Information on projects currently undergoing an EA by Transport Canada can be found in the Canadian Environmental Assessment Registry (CEAR), a repository of EA carried out by federal departments and agencies pursuant to CEAA. The Canadian Environmental Assessment Archives promotes the exchange of information relevant to past EA conducted under CEAA. The archive is the main repository of EAs previously registered in the CEAR Internet Site.



To learn more about Transport Canada’s EA program and/or the National Environmental Management System, please email env@tc.gc.ca.

Date modified:
2012-02-07