An Act to amend the Impact Assessment Act

Bill C-205 amends the Impact Assessment Act (S.C. 2019, c. 28, ss. 1 to 167), the federal environmental-assessment statute for major projects. Brought after the Supreme Court of Canada's October 13, 2023 ruling in Reference re Impact Assessment Act (2023 SCC 23) found significant parts of the IAA unconstitutional as overstepping federal jurisdiction under section 91 of the Constitution Act, 1867. The amendments narrow the IAA's scope to align with the SCC ruling, clarifying the federal-jurisdictional triggers for impact assessment under the project-list framework. Critics including Ecojustice argue the changes weakened federal environmental oversight; the Smith UCP Alberta government welcomed the changes as recognizing provincial jurisdiction.