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

The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada will work in close collaboration with Nova Scotia Department of Energy, Natural Resources Canada, and the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Energy Regulator to conduct a regional assessment of exploratory oil and gas drilling in the offshore area of Nova Scotia. The assessment will build on the Regional Assessment of Offshore Wind Development in Nova Scotia (2025) and incorporate relevant learnings from the Regional Assessment of Offshore Oil and Gas Exploratory Drilling East of Newfoundland and Labrador (2020). The regional assessment will serve as a valuable tool to examine the overarching effects of future development activities and inform the federal impact assessment process for offshore oil and gas projects thereby supporting environmental protection and responsible economic development in Nova Scotia.

Please note that this regional assessment was formerly known as the Regional Assessment of Exploratory Oil and Gas Drilling in the Offshore Area of Nova Scotia. The title of the regional assessment has been adjusted to better reflect the activity and to recognize the joint jurisdiction of the offshore area.