Overview of Environmental Impact Assessment in Parks Canada

The environmental impact assessment program within Parks Canada encompasses a number of legislated and policy-based processes. These include the strategic assessment of policy, plan and program proposals, as required by a Cabinet Directive, and environmental impact assessment of projects under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, and under other regimes specific to certain geographic areas such as Nunavut, the Mackenzie Valley, the Yukon, and the Inuvialuit Settlement Region. Policy direction on the conduct of environmental impact assessment within Parks Canada is provided in various Parks Canada directives and guides.

Parks Canada is committed to exemplary practice in the assessment of the potential impacts of its policies, plans and projects. In general, the person with decision-making responsibility for a project also has the responsibility to ensure that environmental impact assessment obligations are met.

Because of Parks Canada's mandate to protect natural and cultural resources, both will be included in the factors to be considered in each assessment, regardless of whether there is a legal requirement to consider both in any particular assessment.

• Project-Level Environmental Impact Assessment
• Class Screenings
• Strategic Environmental Assessment
• Strategic Environmental Assessment Public Statements