Potential Regional Assessment of the Trans-Canada Highway Improvement Project
Minister's response
Document reference number: 2
Dear Doug Orchard, Peter Kirby, and Henry Rasmussen,
Thank you for your letter dated March 13, 2026, concerning a request for a regional assessment of adverse effects from existing and future activities associated with the Trans-Canada Highway under section 93(1) of the Impact Assessment Act (IAA). The request also requested a designation of a physical activity under section 9(1) of the IAA, for which you received a response from the President from the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada.
After careful consideration of your request and the recommendation made by the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada, I am of the view that a regional assessment of the Trans-Canada Improvement Project is not warranted at this time.
Under IAAC's Policy Framework for Regional Assessment under the IAA, the key objective of regional assessment under the IAA is to inform and improve the effectiveness and efficiency of future federal project-specific impact assessments. At this time, I am not aware of any future designated projects within the region over the next five to ten years that a regional assessment could inform.
The Trans-Canada Improvement Project must be carried out in compliance with applicable federal and provincial mechanisms. The following federal and provincial legislative mechanisms will provide the necessary means to address any potential adverse effects within federal jurisdiction that may be caused by carrying out of the Trans-Canada Improvement Project:
- federal legislation, including the Fisheries Act, the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994, the Species at Risk Act, and the Canadian Navigable Waters Act;
- Manitoba provincial legislation, including the Manitoba Environment Act, 1988, the Manitoba Heritage Resources Act, 1986, The Water Rights Act, 1985, The Water Protection Act, 2005, and The Transportation Infrastructure Act, 2019; and
- Ontario provincial legislation, including Public Transportation and Highway Improvement Act, Environmental Assessment Act (2000), and Ontario Heritage Act (1990).
Documentation related to this regional assessment request, including your letter and this response, will be posted on the Canadian Impact Assessment Registry Internet Site (Reference 90334): Regional Assessment of the Trans-Canada Improvement Project.
Yours truly,
The Honourable Julie Dabrusin, P.C., M.P.