Nuclear Energy Development and the Impact Assessment Act

 

You're invited to an exclusive webinar session hosted by the Canadian Nuclear Law Organization (CNLO) on October 24th.

 

With the energy transition gaining momentum and the increased interest in nuclear projects in Canada, the federal Impact Assessment Act (IAA) – which replaced the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 – has not yet reviewed a nuclear project. However, the IAA may significantly affect nuclear projects. This webinar will describe which nuclear projects may be affected by the IAA and what those effects may be.

 

The IAA itself is not without controversy and was challenged by the Province of Alberta. In 2022, Alberta's Court of Appeal found that the IAA impermissibly interferes with provincial jurisdiction over natural resources and other matters including the development, conservation and management of sites and facilities in the province for the generation and production of electric energy. The federal government has appealed the decision to the Supreme Court of Canada which heard argument from a number of provinces, the federal government, Indigenous groups and other interested parties over the past year. The Supreme Court’s decision is pending.

This webinar will both describe the impact of the IAA and set the context for the upcoming decision by explaining how the IAA impacts nuclear new build projects and how the IAA has changed assessments for nuclear projects. While it is unclear what the Court will decide and the implications of that decision for the IAA and its implementation, the webinar will offer some final comments on whether the decision is likely to have significant impacts on the assessment of nuclear projects.

CNLO Webinar Series- Episode 3- Nuclear Energy Development and the Impact Assessment Act

  • Tuesday Oct 24 2023, 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
  • Virtual