Submission on the Draft Terms of Reference for the Regional Assessment of Oil and Gas Exploratory Drilling in the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Area

Moving at the speed of good process takes time, but it is time well spent when effective assessment and authorization processes support the following: meaningful Crown-Indigenous consultation and the securing of Indigenous peoples’ free, prior, and informed consent (“FPIC”); meaningful public engagement; complete effects assessment; the identification of major projects that have the best potential to contribute positively to sustainable development in Canada; and, the imposition of mitigation, accommodation, and monitoring measures that will avoid harms and contribute to positive outcomes. Strong assessment and authorization processes can support all of these crucial components while also using time and resources economically. Informed and nuanced tailoring can improve regulatory efficiency, but sweeping deregulation will be counterproductive in the long run.

Moving at the speed of good process takes time, but it is time well spent when effective assessment and authorization processes support the following: meaningful Crown-Indigenous consultation and the securing of Indigenous peoples’ free, prior, and informed consent (“FPIC”); meaningful public engagement; complete effects assessment; the identification of major projects that have the best potential to contribute positively to sustainable development in Canada; and, the imposition of mitigation, accommodation, and monitoring measures that will avoid harms and contribute to positive outcomes. Strong assessment and authorization processes can support all of these crucial components while also using time and resources economically. Informed and nuanced tailoring can improve regulatory efficiency, but sweeping deregulation will be counterproductive in the long run.