Worldwide: Environment

British Columbia is proposing legislative and procedural changes to the Environmental Appeal Board and Forest Appeals Commission appeal processes. The Province seeks to clarify when appeals will be decided on existing records versus fresh hearings, and to remove automatic pauses on administrative monetary penalties upon filing appeals.

Quebec and Canada have published a draft environmental assessment agreement that would establish a "one project, one assessment, one decision" framework for major projects in the province. The proposed cooperation agreement would eliminate the need for separate federal impact assessments for non-federal projects, instead relying on Quebec's existing Environment Quality Act process administered by BAPE. This streamlined approach differs from other provincial agreements and could significantly reduce approval

The July 2026 Pathways Plus MOU establishes a groundbreaking framework linking quantified emissions reduction commitments to regulatory incentives under Alberta's TIER regime. How will company-specific carbon capture targets be allocated among Oil Sands Alliance participants, and what regulatory consequences will companies face if they fail to meet their commitments?