This submission supports efforts to accelerate major project approvals, while emphasizing that agricultural land, water resources, and food production capacity must be protected throughout the process.
Key Recommendations
Adopt concurrent review and permitting processes to reduce duplication, improve coordination among federal departments, and shorten project approval timelines while maintaining regulatory standards.
Mandate Agricultural Impact Assessments (AIAs) for major infrastructure and development projects so that impacts on farmland, soil productivity, water resources, agricultural operations, and long-term food production are assessed early in project planning.
Integrate Agricultural Impact Assessments into early project design and review stages to identify and address agricultural concerns before they become sources of delay or conflict.
Support the creation of a Federal Review Coordinator to improve cross-government coordination, ensure predictable timelines, and strengthen accountability for project reviews. CFA also recommends involving Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada when projects could affect agricultural systems.
Modernize regulations by establishing clear timelines, defined responsibilities, and coordinated reviews across departments to provide greater certainty for project proponents.
Provide greater clarity on Federal Economic Zones, including how they would be designated and governed, and ensure agricultural impacts are considered as part of their planning framework.
Improve certainty and predictability for businesses through:
- Clear timelines and service standards.
- Coordinated federal decision-making.
- Reduced regulatory duplication.
- Early clarity on requirements and expectations.
Strengthen Indigenous consultation through earlier and more coordinated engagement, which CFA believes can improve project outcomes, reduce uncertainty, and facilitate more effective decision-making.