Smart Regulation

In the 2002 Speech from the Throne, which sets out the broad goals and directions of the government and its strategy to accomplish those goals, the Canadian government identified smart regulation as a priority to:

• accelerate reforms in key areas to promote health and sustainability
• contribute to innovation and economic growth
• reduce the administrative burden on business

Since that time, the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency has worked to ensure that the federal environmental assessment process contributes to the goals of smart regulation. The Agency’s key piece of legislation, the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, encourages federal authorities to take actions that promote sustainable development, allowing the economy to grow while protecting our environment for generations to come.

Amendments to the Act, which came into force on October 30, 2003, will strengthen environmental assessment by:

• making the process more certain, predictable and timely
• promoting high-quality assessments
• increasing opportunities for meaningful public participation

The changes introduced by the renewed Act reflect a consensus reached through open and inclusive consultation with provinces, industry, Aboriginal groups, environmental organizations and the Canadian public.

The Regulatory Advisory Committee (RAC) was instrumental in this consultation process. The RAC is a multi-stakeholder committee first established in 1992 to advise the Minister of the Environment on the regulations and guidelines needed to implement the new Act.

The Agency has also been working with provincial and territorial governments to develop bilateral agreements to contribute to a more efficient and timely environmental assessment process. These agreements will help to eliminate duplication and overlap, where both federal and provincial assessment processes apply, through a single review process.

For more information about smart regulation, visit the External Advisory Committee on Smart Regulation (EACSR) Web site at: www.smartregulation.gc.ca