Ensuring Environmental Sustainability through Public Consultation in Canada's Environmental Assessment Process: Lessons Learnt

Environmental assessment is a planning and decision-making process used to promoteenvironmentally responsible decision-making. In Canada, the environmental assessment isregulated by both federal and provincial acts. Canadian environmental assessment actregulates the environmental assessment federally while each Province has its own legislationon environmental assessment. With regards to federal projects, Canadian EnvironmentalAssessment Agency is the responsible authority to get the environmental assessment doneand have to be approved by the minister of environment. With regards to the provincialprojects, there are three types of assessments; individual environmental assessments (donewhen the environmental impacts are very significant), class environmental assessments (theseare prior approved planning documents for ten types of projects-resource stewardship andfacility development, minor transmission facilities, government transit, energy infrastructure,remedial flood and erosion control, water power, northern development and mines). Based onthe severity of the environmental impacts, they are categorised into schedule A, B and C.They are self-assessed assessments, but if proved to have higher environmental impacts, thenthe minister of environment will issue an order to conduct individual environmentalassessments. For electricity, waste management and transit projects, environmental screeningprocess has been introduced with a provision to upgrade to individual environmentalassessment if required.According to the Canadian environmental assessment act, public participation is included inall the key milestones of project approval, in the determination of whether an environmentalassessment is required, finalising environmental impact statement guidelines by the CanadianEnvironmental Assessment Agency to the project proponent, the preparation of theenvironmental impact statement by the project proponent, in finalsing the environmentalimpact statement by the agency. In provincial administration, public participation is includedwhen the project proponent is preparing the terms of reference, in finalising the terms ofreference, in conducting the environmental assessment by the project proponent, in makingthe final decision on the project by the ministry. Public participation ensures an open,balanced process and strengthen the quality and credibility of a project. Local and traditionalknowledge about a project‟s physical location can help to identify and address potentialenvironmental effects at the early stage of an environmental assessment. The opportunitiesand seriousness placed on public participation by the Canadian government facilitatessustainable development.Keywords: Public participation, Environmental assessment, Canad