Regional Assessment of Oil and Gas Exploratory Drilling in the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Area

Public notice

Public comments invited on the draft Regional Assessment Report

November 4, 2026 — The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) invites Indigenous Peoples and the public to review and provide comments on the draft Regional Assessment Report for the Regional Assessment of Oil and Gas Exploratory Drilling in the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Area.

How can I participate?

Comments can be submitted online by visiting the regional assessment's homepage on the Canadian Impact Assessment Registry (reference number 90228).

Submit your written comments in either official language until 11:59 p.m. on December 4, 2026. All comments received will be published online as part of the regional assessment file.

Participants who wish to provide input in a different format, can contact IAAC by writing to
NSOffshoreDrilling-NEForageEnMer@iaac-aeic.gc.ca.

Will there be more opportunities to participate?

Following the comment period, all feedback received will be considered in developing the final report for the regional assessment. The final report will be submitted to the Minister of the Environment, Climate Change and Nature and will be posted to the Registry.

What is the regional assessment?

IAAC, in collaboration with the Nova Scotia Department of Energy, Natural Resources Canada, and the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Energy Regulator, are conducting the regional assessment with the intent to examine the broader effects of future offshore exploratory drilling and to inform project impact assessments and decision making in the Canada-Nova Scotia offshore area.

Sign-up for notifications on the Canadian Impact Assessment Registry.

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For media inquiries, contact IAAC's media relations team by writing to media@iaac-aeic.gc.ca.