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Canada’s federal government and the Province of Nova Scotia have announced a new framework aimed at streamlining environmental approvals for major infrastructure and resource projects. The approach, called “one project, one review”, allows federal and provincial authorities to rely on a single environmental assessment rather than conducting separate parallel reviews.

Decisions to apply the framework will be made on a project-by-project basis. Officials say the process is designed to reduce duplication, shorten review timelines, and improve regulatory clarity for projects requiring approvals from both levels of government.

The streamlined review is expected to benefit offshore wind projects in particular, including transmission lines, ports, and marine infrastructure. Other major projects that often require dual approvals, such as pipelines and certain mining developments, could also see faster permitting.

The announcement was made during a visit to Halifax by Prime Minister Mark Carney and Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston. Nova Scotia is advancing plans for large-scale offshore wind projects, including the Wind West initiative, alongside associated transmission infrastructure.

Officials suggest that the new framework could support investment in clean energy infrastructure by simplifying the permitting process and reducing regulatory uncertainty

Source: tgs4c.com