The Agency provides leadership and serves as a centre of expertise for federal environmental assessment. It is responsible for the overall administration of the federal environmental assessment process.

The Agency:

• Administers the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act.
• Encourages public participation, because protecting the environment is everyone's business.
• Advances the science and practice of environmental assessment through research and development.
• Promotes high-quality assessment through training and guidance.
• Provides administrative and advisory support for review panels, mediations, and comprehensive studies, and promotes the development of class screenings.
• Promotes the use of strategic environmental assessment as a key tool to support sustainable decision making.

In general, environmental assessment is a process to predict the environmental effects of proposed initiatives before they are carried out.

An environmental assessment:

• identifies possible environmental effects
• proposes measures to mitigate adverse effects
• predicts whether there will be significant adverse environmental effects, even after the mitigation is implemented

Other environmental studies are often confused with environmental assessment.

Environmental assessments are not...

• Environmental site assessments that are used to identify the nature and extent of contaminants on a specific site.
• Environmental audits that are used to evaluate the environmental management and regulatory compliance of a specific operation.

For more detailed information, visit the Environmental Assessments section.

There are four questions to answer when determining whether an environmental assessment is required under the Act.

Figure 1 - Determining if the Act Applies

What is a project?

A project can be either:

• an activity in relation to a physical work
• an activity not related to a physical work which is described in the Inclusion List Regulations

Can a project be excluded?

A project may be exempted from an environmental assessment if it:

• is described on the Exclusion List Regulations as a project likely to have insignificant environmental effects
• is to be carried out in response to a national emergency for which temporary special measures are being taken under the Emergencies Act
• is to be carried out in response to an emergency and the project is in the interest of preventing damage to property or the environment or is in the interest of public health or safety

What is a federal authority?

In the context of the Act, the term federal authority refers to a federal body (e.g., a department or agency) that may have expertise or a mandate relevant to a proposed project.

Ministers, departments, departmental corporations and agencies of the Government of Canada are federal authorities. Other bodies created by statute and accountable through a minister to Parliament can also be prescribed as a federal authority.

What is a trigger?

The federal environmental assessment process is applied whenever a federal authority has a specified decision-making responsibility in relation to a project, also known as a “trigger” for an environmental assessment.

Specifically, it is when a federal authority:

• proposes a project
• provides financial assistance to a proponent to enable a project to be carried out
• sells, leases, or otherwise transfers control or administration of federal land to enable a project to be carried out
• provides a license, permit or an approval that is listed in the Law List Regulations that enables a project to be carried out

Are there any other reasons for carrying out an environmental assessment?

If a project does not involve any of the “triggers” to the Act, an environmental assessment under the Act may still be possible.

If the Minister of the Environment receives a petition from individuals or interested parties requesting a project to be referred to a mediator or review panel and the Minister believes the project has the potential to cause significant adverse environmental effects across boundaries between non-federal and federal lands, or across provincial or international boundaries, then the Minister has the discretion to require an assessment of the transboundary effects in some circumstances.

There are four types of environmental assessments:

• screenings (including class screenings)
• comprehensive studies
• mediations
• review panels

These four types fall under two categories: self-directed assessments and independent assessments. The four types of environmental assessment are not mutually exclusive, as some projects may undergo more than one type of environmental assessment.

The majority of projects subject to a federal environmental assessment (approximately 99 per cent) requiring an environmental assessment will undergo either a screening or a comprehensive study. These types of environmental assessment fall under the "self-directed" category given that the responsible authority is required to ensure that the assessment is carried out in compliance with the Act.

The other two types, mediation and assessment by a review panel, fall under the independent assessment category. They are "independent" because mediators and panels are appointed by the Minister of the Environment to conduct an assessment independent of government.

The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency does not conduct the assessments. It provides support such as training and guidance, funding for public participation and recommendations during the environmental assessment process. More details on the role of the Agency can be found in About the Agency.

In broad terms, there are four key steps to environmental assessment:

• Describe the project in detail.
• Evaluate the negative environmental effects.
• Determine ways to eliminate or reduce the negative effects on the environment.
• Find the best solution possible for the Canadian public, the environment and industry.

The specific steps in the process can vary depending upon the scope of the project, the anticipated level of the impact on the environment and several of other factors.

The Agency encourages public participation in the environmental assessment process. You may wish to provide comments on a report or participate at public consultation meetings. The Public Participation section directs you to current opportunities for involvement, as well as ways to get involved.

The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency has several resources for environmental assessment professionals to help guide you through the federal environmental assessment process. These resources will help to ensure that you do effective and timely assessments, while meeting the requirements of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act.

The Canadian Environmental Assessment Act requires that the federal environmental assessment process be applied when a federal authority is involved in a project. In some cases, both federal and provincial or territorial processes apply.

Given the potential for overlapping environmental assessments, the Act allows the Minister of the Environment to enter into agreements with provincial and territorial governments relating to the environmental assessments of projects where both governments have an interest.

These agreements provide guidelines for the roles and responsibilities of each government in the assessment of such projects.

Below are some terms and concepts commonly used in reference to environmental assessment.

Federal authority

is:

• a federal Minister of the Crown
• an agency or other body of the federal government ultimately accountable to Parliament through a federal Minister of the Crown
• any federal department or departmental corporation set out in Schedule I or II to the Financial Administration Act
• any other body prescribed in the Federal Authorities Regulations

Federal authorities might have the duty to offer their expertise to any federal environmental assessment, the implementation of mitigation measures and any follow-up program.

Federal Environmental Assessment Coordinator

is the responsible authority or the Agency having the mandate under the Act to coordinate the participation, in screenings and comprehensive studies, of federal authorities among themselves, and with any other jurisdictions.

Project

as defined in the Act, is:

• in relation to a physical work, any proposed construction, operation, modification, decommissioning, abandonment or other undertaking in relation to that physical work
• any proposed physical activity not relating to a physical work that is designated as a project in the Inclusion List Regulation

Proponent

A person or organization that proposes to undertake a project as defined under the Act.

Responsible Authority

A federal authority whose actions or powers trigger the environmental assessment of a particular project. The responsible authority must ensure that an environmental assessment of the project is conducted as early as possible in the planning stages of the project and before irrevocable decisions are made.

Significance

The major outcome of an EA is to determine whether or not a project is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects. The significance of the environmental effects is determined by a combination of scientific data, regulated thresholds, standards, social values and professional judgment. It must be determined in a transparent, systematic and supportable fashion.

Strategic Environmental Assessment

The systematic and comprehensive process of evaluating the environmental effects of a policy, plan or program and its alternatives.

Sustainable Development

Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Trigger

The exercise, by a federal authority, of a power, duty or function that will enable a project to be carried out, thus triggering the obligation for that authority to ensure an environmental assessment be conducted under the Act. For any federal authority, there are four triggers in the Act:

• being the proponent of a project
• providing financial assistance to the project
• providing an interest in land for the purpose of enabling the project to be carried out
• issuing an authorization, listed in the Law List Regulations, for the purpose of enabling the project to be carried out

Please see the Contact Us section for ways to reach us. We also have regional offices throughout the country, serving Canada’s diverse communities and environmental needs. For the address of a regional office, click the appropriate link in the list below.

• Head Office - Ottawa, Ontario
• Atlantic Region
• Quebec Region
• Ontario Region
• Prairie Region
• Alberta Region
• Pacific and Northern Region

Natural resources development

• Large-scale development of natural resources began to open up Canada’s hinterlands after World War II.
• Little consideration was given to broad environmental consequences of mega-projects.
• Environmental effects, including the destruction of wildlife habitat, air and water pollution, and the contamination of fish, were starting to be realized.
• At most, attention was focused on after-thought solutions rather than prevention.

Early origins of environmental assessment

• Growing public interest in environmental issues during the late 1960s
• US National Environmental Policy Act (1969)
• UN Stockholm Conference on Human Settlements (1972)
  • Canadian position identified study of environmental effects of projects as a high priority
• Justice Thomas Berger Mackenzie Valley Pipeline Inquiry (1974-1977)

Cabinet Policy

• Cabinet made a policy commitment to review the environmental effects of federal decisions (1973).
• Development projects were screened “to ensure that they do the least possible damage to our natural environment”.
• Applied to federal lands and other areas of exclusive federal jurisdiction:
  • e.g. nuclear power projects
• Environmental assessment became based on the principle of self-assessment:
  • departments develop and apply their own screening procedures
• Where appropriate, arrangements were made for public meetings and comment on issues.
• Projects with significant effects forwarded to Environment Canada for review by assessment panel. Members were drawn from officials in Environment Canada and the initiating department.
• 1977 Cabinet decision expands panel membership to persons outside government, Crown corporations and regulatory agencies “invited” to participate in the process.

Examples of early review panels

• Point Lepreau Nuclear Power Station (1975)
• Eastern Arctic Offshore Drilling (1978):
  • demonstrated importance of Aboriginal traditional knowledge
• Arctic Pilot Project – Southern Terminals (1980):
  • first joint federal-provincial review

Environmental Assessment and Review Process Guidelines Order

• Environmental Assessment and Review Process Guidelines Order (EARPGO - 1984)
• Order-in-Council under Government Organization Act
• Codifies largely unwritten and vague process arising out of 1974 Cabinet Policy
• Formally assigns Federal Environmental Assessment Review Office as responsible for administration of process
• Initially interpreted as non-binding

Toward a legislated process

• Provinces began to legislate their own processes during the 1970s and 1980s.
• Macdonald Commission recommended statutory basis for EARPGO (1985).
• Brundtland Commission (1987)
• Reforming Federal Environmental Assessment: A Discussion Paper was released for public consultation (1987).
• Public concern about the environment reemerges during the late 1980s.

Key court decisions

• Rafferty-Alameda dam (1989)
  • Federal Court of Appeal ruled EARPGO to be a law of general application
• Oldman River dam (1992):
  • Supreme Court ruled that EARPGO applies where federal department has “affirmative regulatory duty”.
  • Shared responsibility over the environment
• National Energy Board (1994):
  • Supreme Court takes broad view of federal capacity to assess full scope of project.

Canadian Environmental Assessment Act

• Originally introduced as Bill C-78 in 1990
• Bill C-13 received royal assent in June 1992
• Amendments in Bill C-56 passed in December 1994
• Canadian Environmental Assessment Act brought into force in January 1995

Regulatory Advisory Committee

• Instrumental in advising Minister on development of regulations
• Established in 1991
• Membership includes:
  • federal departments
  • provincial departments
  • environmental groups
  • industry representatives
  • Aboriginal groups

Environmental Assessment Harmonization

• Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment - with the exception of Quebec - signed an accord in 1998, designed to lead to improved cooperation and better environmental protection across Canada and a sub-agreement on environmental assessment.
• Harmonization agreements have been signed with Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia.

Renewing the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act

• In 1999, the Minister of the Environment launched a review of the provisions and operations of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. The Minister published a discussion paper, as well as a several background studies.
• In 2001, Bill C-19 was introduced in Parliament to amend the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. (At the same time, the Minister also submitted his report on the review of the Act).
• Bill C-9 received royal assent in June 2003. Amendments to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act took effect on October 30, 2003. Environment Minister David Anderson welcomed the announcement in a national news release.

The Participant Funding Program is administered by the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency. It is a limited fund to support the participation of interested individuals, not-for-profit organizations and Aboriginal groups in key stages of the federal environmental assessment review process by means of comprehensive study, review panel, joint review panel or by mediation.

The Participant Funding Program supports public participation that contributes to an open, balanced process and strengthens the quality and credibility of environmental assessments .

The Participant Funding Program is comprised of two funding envelopes:

• The Regular Funding Envelope provides financial assistance to members of the public, not-for-profit organizations, and Aboriginal groups to participate in the public consultation opportunities provided during review panel and joint review panel processes, and comprehensive studies.
• The Aboriginal Funding Envelope provides funding to Aboriginal groups to assist them to prepare for and participate in Aboriginal consultation activities as well as public consultation opportunities associated with:
  • review panel and joint review panel processes; and
  • comprehensive studies of major resource projects.

Successful applicants may only receive funds from one envelope.

A decision is made on the amount to allocate on a project-by-project basis considering:

• the potential environmental effects of the project;
• the size and location of the project;
• the diversity of issues likely to be involved in the assessment;
• participant funding levels that may have been established for similar projects in the past; and
• available resources.

• The funding program covers expenses incurred to participate in consultation activities related to environmental assessments.
• These expenses can include: fees for expert advice, travel expenses, purchase of relevant information materials, information collection and dissemination costs, among others.
• Certain activities are not funded. These include duplicate services, studies or written materials which are being funded by other public or private sources, including information provided for or by the panel or proponent. General operations and maintenance expenses are also not covered.
• The Program is a limited financial contribution for the person or group to participate, and is not meant to cover all expenses.
• A more complete list of eligible expenses can be found in the Participant Funding Program Guide.

Travel costs are eligible and can be refunded based on rates established by the Treasury Board Secretariat. Fees for review of technical documents are also eligible costs.

The Participant Funding Program may cover legal expenses except for costs associated with activities related to litigation. Emphasis will be placed on covering high priority expenses for all applicants before medium priority expenses such as legal fees are considered.

Individuals, Aboriginal groups and not-for-profit organizations may apply for participant funding under the Regular Funding Envelope, providing they can demonstrate that they meet at least one of the following criteria:

• have a direct, local interest in the project, such as living or owning property in the project area;
• have community knowledge or Aboriginal traditional knowledge relevant to the environmental assessment; or
• have expert information relevant to the anticipated environmental effects of the project.

To be eligible for the Aboriginal Funding Envelope, Aboriginal groups must plan to engage in Aboriginal consultation activities with the federal government that are linked to the environmental assessment of a proposed project by means of comprehensive studies of major resource projects, review panels and joint review panels.

For the Regular Funding Envelope, once the level of funding has been determined, the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency issues a news release or a public notice announcing the availability of funding and inviting the public to apply. The names of recipients are also announced.

Aboriginal groups interested in the Aboriginal Funding Envelope are invited to contact the Agency at info@ceaa-acee.gc.ca, or call the Agency toll free number at 1-866-582-1884.

You must meet the basic eligibility criteria and you must:

• provide information on your organization;
• submit a detailed work plan and budget;
• explain the need for the funding assistance; and
• identify other sources of funding you may receive.

For more information, consult the Participant Funding Program Guide.

Applicants must complete an application form and send it to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency’s Participant Funding Program. Successful applicants must sign a standard contribution agreement and submit a request for payment with supporting documentation before they can receive the funds.

The application form under the Regular Funding Envelope is available on the Agency’s website. To obtain a copy of the application form for the Aboriginal Funding Envelope, contact the Agency at info@ceaa-acee.gc.ca, or call the Agency toll free number at 1-866-582-1884.

For the Regular Funding Envelope, a closing date is provided in the public notice or news release inviting applicants to submit a request for funding. Incomplete applications or applications received after the closing date will not be accepted.

• The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency establishes a Funding Review Committee. This committee is independent of both the project proponent and the environmental assessment review process.
• The committee is usually comprised of three people, including one Agency representative and at least one non-government member.
• The committee reviews all the funding applications and recommends funding awards, taking into account the amount of funds available.
• The President of the Agency makes the final decision on funding awards.
• For the Regular Funding Envelope, the Agency issues a news release announcing the allocation of funds and issues the Funding Review Committee Report which provides the reasons for the funding decisions. The report is sent to applicants and posted on the Agency's Web site.

Local governments, other than an Aboriginal government, are ineligible for participant funding under the program.

The Participant Funding Program does not provide support for public participation in screenings. Funding is extended to those projects where public participation will best benefit the review process. These projects may have possible significant adverse environmental effects, and are the subject of a high degree of public concern. Public consultation is mandatory for comprehensive studies, review panels and mediation.

No. The funding program applies only to participation in comprehensive studies, review panels or mediations whether they are federal only or joint with another jurisdiction. The federal funding program does not extend to screenings.

The Participant Funding Program was established under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, (subsection 58 (1.1)).

Environmental assessment (EA), also known as environmental impact assessment, is a planning and decision-making tool used to support informed decisions. Often, this planning and decision-making process is applied to projects through provisions contained within the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (the Act). There is also a provision in the Act for applying environmental assessment principles to programs, policies and plans undertaken by the federal government (known as Strategic Environmental Assessment).

The Agency's mission is to "provide Canadians with high-quality federal environmental assessments that contribute to informed decision making in support of sustainable development". Federal environmental assessments of projects are required under the Act. The Act is premised on the principle of self-assessment, which means that the government department or agency that has to make a decision related to the project (as a proponent, funder, landowner, or regulator) must ensure that an environmental assessment is conducted. The Agency's role is to provide advice and support to federal departments and proponents on process issues related to the conduct of environmental assessments. (For more information on the Agency's roles and responsibilities, see the annual Report on Plans and Priorities.)

Environmental assessments are not environmental site assessments that are used to identify the nature and extent of contaminants on a specific site. Nor are environmental assessments the same as environmental audits that are used to evaluate the environmental management and regulatory compliance of a specific operation.

The purpose of the R&D Program is to help the federal government meet future challenges and improve the practice of environmental assessment in a manner which is relevant, credible, efficient, and encourages innovation and excellence.

The Program aims to improve the practice and methods of EA, rather than the scientific information that is part of the EA of specific projects. If you are seeking funding for science-based research, please contact one of the relevant science-based federal departments, such as Environment Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Natural Resources Canada, etc.

The R&D Program addresses both research and development. Research is exploratory work that is carried out in an area to better understand the implications for environmental assessment in general and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act in particular. Development uses the information produced by the research phase and carries it forward so it can be used by interested parties, including policy makers, decision makers, and EA practitioners. In 2005, the Program shifted its focus to development to explore the practical applications of environmental assessment.

The Program is intended to stimulate new research in environmental assessment by individuals and organizations that are identified below. New research means research that is not already underway or completed. The research projects proposed for funding under the Program must be unbiased (i.e., does not advocate a particular point of view) and balanced (looks at both sides of an issue).

Canadian individuals or organizations from the following categories, either by themselves or in partnership with others, can submit a research proposal to be considered for funding by the Agency's R&D Program:

• Provincial, municipal, local governments or Aboriginal governments and public agencies;
• Not-for-profit organizations such as charitable and voluntary organizations, professional associations, environmental non-governmental organizations, and educational institutions;
• Aboriginal peoples' organizations and associations;
• Local organizations such as community associations and groups, seniors' and youth groups, and service clubs;
• For-profit organizations, such as small businesses, companies, corporations and industry associations; and
• International and intergovernmental organizations and foreign governments.

This Program is not intended to replace existing federal research initiatives. However, not-for-profit research institutes can apply, even if they are partially funded by the federal government.

An applicant must be a legal entity, such as an individual or an incorporated group or body; otherwise, they cannot sign the Contribution Agreement should their proposal be selected for funding by the Agency.

If a proposal is submitted on behalf of more than one organization, then it must be signed by a representative of each organization on whose behalf it has been submitted. If the project is selected for funding, the Contribution Agreement must also be signed by the all organizations who submitted the proposal.

The Agency will fund up to $42,500 for one project. The project must be completed by March 31, 2010. There are, however, no minimum or average funding levels set by the Agency for funding awards. As part of the research proposal, the researcher(s) must indicate the resources required to carry out the research. The Agency will only fund those expenses considered to be eligible expenses. (Please see next question or the Eligible Expenses section in the Contribution Agreement.)

If a proposal is selected for funding, the Agency will review the proposed budget and determine whether the costs set out in it are reasonable. The Agency may choose to re-negotiate the budget with the researcher(s) prior to signing the Contribution Agreement.

You can claim the following as eligible expenses from the Agency's R&D Program:

• Salaries, wages and related expenses such as employee benefits;
• Operating expenses such as rent, utilities, materials and supplies;
• Management, finance, administration and other overhead costs;
• Professional editing and translation costs;
• Travel and accommodations, in accordance with Treasury Board and Agency policies and guidelines; and
• Other costs that the Agency considers to be necessary in order for the recipient(s) to carry out the activities required of it under the Contribution Agreement.

GST or HST is an eligible expense only if, as a result of carrying out the activities described in the proposal, you are charged either tax by a third party. The contribution paid by the Agency is not subject to GST or HST because the Agency does not receive either property or a service in return for its contribution.

When developing a timeline for a research project, the date for the final draft of your report must be calculated taking into account all of the following steps:

1. The timeline must begin after the Agency announces the funding recipients.
2. Be realistic about how long it will take to gather and analyze the necessary information. Please take into account certain times of year when people may be less available, such as Christmas and during the summer.
3. Take into account that the research report will undergo a peer review process which usually requires one month. This is to provide reviewers sufficient time to review the research report and prepare their comments.
4. The researcher will need an additional 4 weeks to respond appropriately to all the issues and comments raised in the peer review.
5. Once the content of the document has been finalized, the researcher is responsible for ensuring that it undergoes a stylistic edit by a professional editor (this is further explained in the Author's Guidelines), and the researcher is responsible for making the appropriate changes. This will normally require an additional month.
6. Once the report is final in one official language, the researcher is responsible for ensuring that it is translated (this is further defined in the Author's Guidelines). This will normally require an additional month.
7. Once the content of the document is edited, translated and final, the document is ready to be submitted to the Agency (this is further defined in the Author's Guidelines). This will normally require an additional month.

These items combined require approximately four to six months to complete. That is in addition to the time it will take you to conduct research and complete your report.

In some organizations, the lead researcher may not have the legal authority to sign documents that make commitments on behalf of the organization. For example, in universities although professors lead the research team which conducts the research described in the proposal, they do not have the authority to sign contribution agreements; most often, it is the university's Office of Research that can do so.

It is necessary to ensure that the Office of Research is aware of the proposal submission, and is willing to sign the Contribution Agreement with the Agency if the proposal is selected for funding. This ensures that for each project the Contribution Agreement is signed and the research is underway as quickly as possible. Otherwise, the research can be significantly delayed for administrative reasons, affecting timelines and perhaps requiring the researcher to produce the same research within a significantly shorter time period.

The complete procedure for submitting a research proposal is outlined in the Annual Call for Proposals posted on the Agency website. The complete proposal, together with any supporting documents, such as letter(s) confirming a partnership with another organization with respect to the project described in the proposal, are received at the Agency by 4:00 p.m. on the due date indicated in the Call for Proposals. You can send your complete package by messenger to:

Research and Development Program
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
160 Elgin Street, 22^nd Floor
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0H3

Or by e-mail at rd@ceaa-acee.gc.ca

Faxed proposals will not be considered.

The first step involves reviewing each proposal to determine whether it meets the following criteria:

1. Was the proposal received at the Agency by 4:00 p.m. EST on the due date indicated in the Call for Proposals?
2. Does it address one of the Program's priority areas for research identified in the Call for Proposals?
3. Does it contain all the information requirements identified in the Proposal Format Guidelines?

Proposals which pass this initial screening are passed on to the Evaluation Committee for review. Their role is to review the proposals against set criteria and recommend to the Agency the projects to be funded.

The evaluation committee will assess the proposals based on the degree to which the research proposal meets the following criteria statements:

1. The statement of the problem or issue to be addressed is clear and concise.
2. The proposed research is relevant to the research priority area.
3. The research objectives are clearly outlined and indicate a thorough and logical analysis of the problem or issue.
4. The research methodology is feasible and appropriate for achieving the stated objectives.
5. A description of how the project would result in significant, necessary and improved understanding in the priority area is provided.
6. The proposed research will contribute new information, knowledge or insights to the priority area in a manner that will directly improve the practice of environmental assessment in Canada.
7. The proposed business plan, including the proposed budget, is realistic and cost effective, includes key project milestones, includes specific activities and associated dates and reflects the proposed methodology.
8. The lead researcher, or research team, have appropriate experience and qualifications with respect to the research topic and proposed methodology.
9. The target audience for the technology/knowledge resulting from this proposal has been identified and evidence of support from the target audience/stakeholders for the research outcomes exists. If the research proposal involves a partnership with another organization, a letter confirming a partnership is included.
10. Evidence of other sources of funding and the respective amounts, or demonstration of the applicant's ability to raise funds from sources other than the federal government is provided in the proposal.

The intellectual property developed as a result of the research funded by the Agency's R&D Program remains the property of the funding recipient as defined in the Contribution Agreement. Funding provided by the R&D Program is a contribution to a research project rather than a contract for the production of a research product (such as a report, seminar, electronic tool, etc.).

The Agency attaches a disclaimer to all research reports posted on the Web site stating that the views, conclusions and recommendations expressed in the reports are those of the authors and do not represent the views of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency or the Government of Canada.