New Brunswick has become the first province to sign an agreement with the federal government to create a joint environmental assessment process for major projects.
Premier Susan Holt made the announcement on Tuesday alongside federal Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc and provincial Environment Minister Gilles LePage.
The premier called it a “one project, one review” agreement.
It would allow projects that trigger both federal and provincial environmental laws to avoid being forced to do separate reviews. The aim is to remove duplication and make the review process more efficient, Holt said, and “not waste anybody’s time.”
The premier said the streamlined assessment would maintain the province’s commitment to environmental protection, engagement, First Nations participation and public involvement.
“We will continue to form (decisions) based on data and follow the opinions of experts,” Holt said “and we will make sure that all matters are properly studied before any final decision is made.”
Some major projects in the province, like the long-delayed Sisson Mine near Fredericton, have already gone through a joint environmental assessment process. When asked if a more efficient review process could have sped up the Sisson Mine, Holt said no.
“The Sisson project paused because of market conditions and the way China controls the prices,” Holt said. “I think it’s more important to look at the next project, because we have a number of critical mineral projects that we’re looking to advance…and we need to give proponents a sense of certainty on the timeline.”
When asked about potential future projects that could benefit from a streamlined review process, officials mentioned the Mount Pleasant Mine in St. George, the Caribou Mine in Bathurst, and a major project to upgrade the port of Saint John.
Holt says the goal is for each level of government to share expertise and best practices depending on the project.
In a news release, the federal government says they commit to relying on New Brunswick’s processes and using collaborative approaches like joint review panels when appropriate.
The federal government says this gets Canada closer to “having all environmental and impact assessments completed within two years.”