About the Registry

The Canadian Impact Assessment Registry makes it easier for Canadians to have a say in major projects. Explore the Registry to learn more about an assessment or submit input on projects.

The Registry provides access to information about:

• impact assessments under the Impact Assessment Act (the Act);
• regulatory processes of major projects;
• projects carried out on federal lands or outside of Canada led by other authorities;
• strategic and regional assessments under the Act; and
• ongoing environmental assessments under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012, including assessments under the former acts.

Responsible authorities

The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada is responsible for assessments under the Act, including regional and strategic assessments. We make information about these assessments available online. See our Frequently Asked Questions to learn about the types of records you can find on the Registry.

Other authorities are responsible for assessments on federal lands or outside of Canada, and manage and maintain records. These organizations include:

• other federal departments and agencies;
• federal regulators; and
• port and airport authorities, including Crown corporations.

You can access additional records by contacting the authority listed on the assessment page for a project on federal lands or outside of Canada.

New tools and ongoing enhancements

We are committed to incorporating user feedback in our programs and services. If you have questions, need help, or have ideas that could improve the Registry, please let us know. You can contact the Registry team at registry-registre@iaac-aeic.gc.ca.

Summary of updates to the Registry

• Registry home page includes new buttons to enable users to filter current assessments. This helps distinguish assessments led by the Agency, Review Panels, and regional and strategic assessments, from assessments on federal lands.
• Assessment pages now include convenient links to training, participant funding and information sessions. These provide users with more information on how to take part in assessments led by the Agency and by Review Panels.

• Added ability for users to download scientific and geospatial data files submitted by proponents.
• Restored public access to archived assessment information. This replaces access to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Archives online database that was decommissioned.
  • All assessments that underwent a comprehensive study or a review panel under the former Acts will now be searchable from the Registry.
  • Screening and class-screening assessment information will be available on Open Data for continued public access.
• Updated the Frequently Asked Questions to explain new features and improve usability.

• Published new guidance with search tips.
• Updated the Frequently Asked Questions to help users navigate the Registry more effectively.

• Launched a new authentication method for submitting online comments. Supports a secure and unique sign-in experience for government services.
• Introduced an interactive assessment map, which features interactive tools and advanced functionality. Enables users to explore, visualise and analyse assessment data near a geographical area of interest.

• Added new assessment types. Allows users to find strategic assessments and projects that are excluded from an assessment in line with current regulations relating to Newfoundland and Labrador offshore exploratory wells.
• Implemented the use of quotation marks to allow for greater precision when searching for specific parts of a sentence.

• Significant changes made to further improve search results. Results now:
  • combine documents and comments within a single search result, and
  • optimize the relevance of results for bilingual documents.
• Improved user experience and process for submitting online comments.
• Created distinct sign-in pages for public commenters and federal administrators.

• Launched a modernized online registry when the Act came into force. The Registry was designed to be easy to use and accessible using mobile devices. Key features now include:
  • redesigned assessment pages for easier navigation.
  • improved search function to offer a variety of search filters to help pinpoint results.
  • introduced a new online commenting platform. This made it easier for users to submit views on assessments.
  • updated policies to promote transparency while safeguarding confidential information.

More information

To learn more about federal impact assessments, consult the Agency’s website.