Development of EIA Issues in Canada and Practices in China

摘要

The requirement for conducting environmental impact assessment (EIA) for all economic andconstruction development projects and activities in Canada is based on the law. The federal government of Canada, and all provincial and territorial governments have developed relevant processes and procedures to meet this legal obligation. As early as in 1973, the federal Environmental Assessment and Review Process (EARP) was established, and in 1984 the Guidelines Order issued was by the federal cabinet which clarified roles and responsibilities of variousparties and stakeholders for participating and /or implementing EARP.However, subsequent challenges have been raised to the court. In response, a federal court based in the Province of Saskatchewan ruled that the Guidelines Order is a law of general application and not simply a federal Cabinet Policy statement, and the policy document under EARP, was thus subject to court challenges.