IAIA Western and Northern Canada’s Post

I share a blog written with Bennett Jones colleagues on recent federal initiatives affecting the regulatory framework for natural resource and infrastructure projects in Canada. There is a stated goal to enable clean growth projects to get reviewed, permitted, and built faster. No-one is disputing the objective, indeed the necessity. What matters is the implementation of the commitments and real-life successes. Investors who have been holding back projects will be attentive to early signals.

In recent months, the Government of Canada has taken several steps that may alter the regulatory system for natural resource and infrastructure projects, specifically "clean growth projects". Key developments include amendments to the Impact Assessment Act and and steps to improve the administration of the regulatory system. Serge Dupont, Martin Ignasiak, KC, Laurie Wright, David Bursey and Sharon (Gursharan) K. Singh discuss the changes, while providing high level advice for project proponents and investors. #PublicPolicy #Infrastructure #EnergyRegulatory

This bill (C-69 the sequel???) includes some welcome changes to the regulatory system, but, as always, the devil is in the details: ✅ Including Indigenous partnership from the outset is key. The Indigenous Loan Guarantee Program is an important - and overdue - step towards economic Reconciliation. The establishment of a Crown Consultation Coordinator also has real potential to reduce consultation fatigue for Indigenous Peoples, clarify the process for proponents and better uphold the honour of the Crown if done well. ❓ The intention of reducing duplication between federal and provincial/territorial processes is crucial, but given the current relationship with Ottawa, will also likely require the federal government to accept the provincial/territorial process as happened with Cedar LNG. Will this be possible when there is tension between governments about what constitutes the public interest? Interested in learning more? Reach out to me at gdstrategic.com.

In recent months, the Government of Canada has taken several steps that may alter the regulatory system for natural resource and infrastructure projects, specifically "clean growth projects". Key developments include amendments to the Impact Assessment Act and and steps to improve the administration of the regulatory system. Serge Dupont, Martin Ignasiak, KC, Laurie Wright, David Bursey and Sharon (Gursharan) K. Singh discuss the changes, while providing high level advice for project proponents and investors. #PublicPolicy #Infrastructure #EnergyRegulatory

In recent months, the Government of Canada has taken several steps that may alter the regulatory system for natural resource and infrastructure projects, specifically "clean growth projects". Key developments include amendments to the Impact Assessment Act and and steps to improve the administration of the regulatory system. Serge Dupont, Martin Ignasiak, KC, Laurie Wright, David Bursey and Sharon (Gursharan) K. Singh discuss the changes, while providing high level advice for project proponents and investors. #PublicPolicy #Infrastructure #EnergyRegulatory

The federal Chair of the Ministerial Working Group on Regulatory Efficiency for Clean Growth Projects recently issued a statement about the regulatory process for clean energy projects in Canada. “The government is taking further action to improve federal regulatory and permitting processes to make them more efficient, transparent and predictable. This will advance other national priorities such as: accelerating Canada’s most promising sectors and opportunities for a net-zero economy; producing the abundant clean energy needed to power our net-zero future; advancing meaningful Indigenous engagement and participation; and ensuring the timely completion of environmental reviews without cutting corners." In the statement, they outline 7 priority actions. More information is expected this spring. Read more below:

The UK government has announced the formation of a new body aimed at tackling the persistent delays in infrastructure projects, a move that is crucial for the country's economic growth and environmental targets. #climatetargets #Economicgrowth #infrastructurefunding #NetZeroEmissions #privateinvestment #publicinvestment #Renewableenergy #transportinfrastructure #thxnews #UKNews

Infrastructure Australia's Gabrielle Trainor AO and Clare Gardiner-Barnes recently participated in CEDA - Committee for Economic Development of Australia's 2024 Infrastructure Conference, contributing to a panel discussion on the future of Australia's infrastructure sector. Gabrielle opened the session by talking about Infrastructure Australia's Market Capacity research and emphasised the importance of governments actively managing demand in their respective pipelines to ensure the sector's future sustainability. She also underscored the outcomes of the numerous reviews that have occurred, highlighting how they have empowered both governments and the industry to adopt a more strategic approach to infrastructure planning and decision-making. If you want to find out more insights and key recommendations from our latest Market Capacity research, head to: https://lnkd.in/gtqPmhZz To watch and listen to the full panel discussion, please visit: https://lnkd.in/gc-w2bpZ #MarketCapacity #IndustryInsights #LabourShortage #Infrastructure #Infrastructure2024 Said Hirsh Annabel Crookes Culture in Construction

🌿 The #GreeningCities Partnership is making strides in enhancing Green Infrastructure in cities through five key Actions🌿 They need your feedback on these Actions! Let’s zoom in on three of them: Action 1: Need for Green: Methodology for Quantifying Demand for Green Infrastructure 🌳  ➡ Developing a comprehensive methodology to help municipalities quantify their demand for urban green infrastructure. This methodology serves a dual purpose:   (1) addressing climate adaptation needs while enhancing biodiversity and   (2) providing evidence-based substantiation for green infrastructure implementation.  Action 4: Strengthening Structural Funding for Urban Green Infrastructure 💶 ➡ Recommending the earmarking of resources in future national-level fund regulations for green infrastructure investment and maintenance focusing on the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Cohesion Fund for the next EU financial period (2028-2034). Additionally, it will create a one-stop shop tool for easier access to information on available funding for green infrastructure Action 5: Enhancing the Use of Innovative Funding 💡 ➡ Identifying and sharing knowledge on best practices regarding innovative funding to support urban green infrastructure. It focuses on three main areas: (1) public-private partnerships (PPPs), (2) debt-based instruments such as green bonds and loans from the Natural Capital Financing Facility (NCFF), and (3) long-term financial constructions for funding GI projects and maintenance costs. 🗣️ Share your thoughts in the #Public #Consultation of their Draft Action Plan! https://lnkd.in/dU8XYAcV #GreeningCities #UrbanGreenInfrastructure #ClimateAction #Biodiversity #SustainableCities #InnovativeFunding #PublicConsultation #ERDF #CohesionFund #GreenBonds 

Still time to book this fascinating discussion by Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) featuring our CEO Dr Jenifer Baxter. Details below. #sustainableinfrastructure #ClimateWeekNYC #InfrastructureGovernance #ClimateChange #ClimateAction