Newfoundland and Labrador and Canada sign co-operation agreement to accelerate project assessments

Today, the Honourable Joanne Thompson, Minister of Fisheries and the Honourable Chris Tibbs, Minister of Social Supports and Well-Being, Housing, Poverty Reduction, and Responsible for the Status of Persons with Disabilities, announced the Co-operation Agreement between Newfoundland and Labrador and Canada on Environmental and Impact Assessment.

September 8, 2026 – St. John’s, Newfoundland Labrador – Impact Assessment Agency of Canada

Today, the Honourable Joanne Thompson, Minister of Fisheries and the Honourable Chris Tibbs, Minister of Social Supports and Well-Being, Housing, Poverty Reduction, and Responsible for the Status of Persons with Disabilities, announced the Co-operation Agreement between Newfoundland and Labrador and Canada on Environmental and Impact Assessment. Minister Thompson attended on behalf of the Honourable Julie Dabrusin, Minister of the Environment, Climate Change, and Nature, and  Minister Tibbs attended on behalf of the Honourable Andrea Barbour, Minister of Environment, Conservation, and Climate Change.

The world is changing rapidly. In response, the Government of Canada is focused on building a stronger, more independent, and more resilient economy by accelerating projects, in partnership with provinces and territories.

Moving forward, the Agreement enables Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador to implement a "one project, one review" approach that provides a streamlined, flexible assessment process that minimizes duplication for projects in Newfoundland and Labrador that are subject to both federal and provincial assessments. This ensures both governments can adopt the most effective assessment process on a case-by-case basis.