NS, feds sign environmental approval co-operation agreement

Nova Scotia and the federal government have agreed to streamline the process when both federal and provincial environmental approvals are needed for major infrastructure and resource projects.

The co-operation agreement, also known as the one project, one review model, signed by Premier Tim Houston and Prime Minister Mark Carney, is now in effect.

“As the global demand for reliable, sustainable and ethical energy and mineral sources continues, Nova Scotia is ready to meet the moment,” said Premier Houston. “With this agreement, Canada and Nova Scotia are standing together to quickly unlock the many benefits of our province’s energy sector, while making our nation more resilient and competitive.”

The types of projects which can need approvals from both levels of government include energy transmission lines that cross interprovincial boundaries, airports, marine terminals and ports, pipelines and some mining projects. Nova Scotia’s Wind West project, for example, will need an onshore transmission line to flow energy to market across Canada and beyond. With some of the strongest and most consistent offshore winds in the world, Wind West has the potential to power about a quarter of Canada’s electricity needs.

“Today’s agreement between Canada and Nova Scotia enables our governments to build big and build fast, together. By cutting red tape and streamlining approvals, we will build major infrastructure projects that power our industries, create thousands of high-paying Canadian jobs, and unlock our full potential as a global clean energy superpower. Together, we’re building Nova Scotia Strong to build Canada Strong,” said Prime Minister Mark Carney.

Under the one project, one review model, a project that would have previously been subject to both a federal impact assessment and a provincial environmental assessment will now be able to follow a streamlined and co-ordinated regulatory process that removes duplication, shortens review times and increases regulatory clarity. This gives project proponents and investors confidence and certainty.

Decisions on whether to use this approach will be made by the Province on a project-by-project basis.

“Now, more than ever, we need to speed up project timelines and provide greater certainty and regulatory clarity to Nova Scotians, communities, businesses and investors, while maintaining our stringent environmental guardrails. This agreement moves us closer to sustainable prosperity and will help advance new clean energy projects, which will help us meet our greenhouse gas reduction targets and achieve net zero by 2050,” said Timothy Halman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change.

Featured image: (Province of Nova Scotia).