Minister's Response

The Honourable Tim Houston, MLA
Premier of Nova Scotia
Minister of Energy
premier@novascotia.ca

Dear Premier Houston:

Thank you for the productive engagement at the First Ministers' Meeting in Ottawa and for your commitment to working to conclude the Canada-Nova Scotia cooperation agreement for the assessment of major projects without delay.

As we share the view that a regional assessment can serve as a valuable tool to examine the overarching effects of future development activities and inform the federal impact assessment process, I am authorizing the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC), pursuant to subparagraph 93(1)(a)(ii) of the Impact Assessment Act, to work in close collaboration with the Government of Nova Scotia to conduct a regional assessment of exploratory oil and gas drilling in the offshore area of Nova Scotia. This would incorporate any relevant learning from the Regional Assessment of Offshore Oil and Gas Exploratory Drilling East of Newfoundland and Labrador and, given the history of exploration and development in the area and building on the Regional Assessment of Offshore Wind Development in Nova Scotia, would be expected to be completed in Fall 2026.

I understand that early discussions have already begun between representatives of the Nova Scotia Department of Energy and IAAC and will also include Natural Resources Canada and the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Energy Regulator. Accordingly, I have instructed IAAC officials to begin the planning process with the Nova Scotia Department of Energy and all other key partners to design this regional assessment. This work will include defining the goal, objectives, scope and intended outcomes, which will be described in the terms of reference. A collaborative approach will allow us to align priorities and leverage existing data and experience. Engagement with Indigenous Peoples and stakeholder organizations will be an essential part of the planning process.

Thank you for your interest and commitment to work collaboratively with the Government of Canada in support of environmental protection and responsible economic development in Nova Scotia.

Yours truly,

The Honourable Julie Dabrusin, P.C., M.P.

c.c.: The Honourable Tim Hodgson, Minister, Natural Resources Canada
The Honourable Timothy Halman, Minister, Environment and Climate Change, Nova Scotia
Ms. Lora MacEachern, Deputy Minister, Environment and Climate Change, Nova Scotia