ceaa

CEAA is an acronym used in Canada to refer to both the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (the federal statute) and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (the federal body that administered the act). The term is most commonly encountered in discussions of federal environmental assessment processes in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Since 2019, the framework has undergone reform, and the agency and act with the CEAA designation have been superseded by new legislation and the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada, but historical references remain in use.

Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (1995): The act established a federal process for environmental assessments of projects that required federal authorization or funding. It created a mechanism for identifying potential adverse environmental effects and required consideration of such effects in federal decisions. It also provided for public participation and a follow-up program to verify mitigation measures.

Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012: In 2012, the previous act was replaced by CEAA 2012, which reformed and modernized the assessment process. The new framework retained federal oversight of environmental effects for designated projects and introduced clearer triggers, timelines, and accountability, while preserving public involvement.

Impact and current status: In 2019, the government replaced CEAA 2012 with the Impact Assessment Act and established the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC). The IAAC administers impact assessments under the new act, broadening the scope beyond the natural environment to include social and economic considerations. In common usage, CEAA now refers primarily to the historical regime or to the agency that administered it.