Regulatory and Permitting Efficiency for Clean Growth Projects

Section 1. Overview of CanNor’s Role in Supporting Regulatory and Permitting Efficiency

CanNor, through its Northern Projects Management Office (NPMO), provides single-window coordination of federal participation in impact assessments of major projects in the territories (Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut), and acts as Crown Consultation Coordinator. The federal Impact Assessment Act generally does not apply in the North; rather, the territories each have their own unique impact assessment and regulatory review processes, rooted in modern treaties and led by co-management boards. CanNor maintains its coordination role for clean growth projects in the North and further focuses on federal regulatory and permitting processes, after impact assessments are complete.

Section 2. Results for Thematic Areas of the Cabinet Directive

Theme 1: Strengthening service standards

Planned results:

CanNor is not a federal regulator and is not responsible for issuing permits, licences or authorizations for clean growth projects. This section is not relevant.

Theme 2: Providing timely guidance to proponents

Planned results:

Through its NPMO, CanNor will work to support proponent and project readiness by convening key federal, territorial and Indigenous partners, as well as review boards, to streamline impact assessment and regulatory processes for clean growth projects in the territories. In 2026-27, CanNor will:

• Continue to work with proponents of northern clean growth projects during the pre-impact assessment phase to support their readiness, and the readiness of regulators for more efficient and robust impact assessment processes in the North.
• Further its coordination work with federal regulators to enhance the efficiency of federal permitting for northern clean growth projects. This work will include convening activities between federal regulators and proponents, as well as territorial regulators and/or regulatory review boards if needed, to reduce duplication and enhance collaboration.

Theme 3: Coordinating consultation with Indigenous Peoples

Planned results:

As Crown Consultation Coordinator for major projects in the North, CanNor’s NPMO will continue to work with federal regulators and decision-makers to support efficient and effective impact assessment and regulatory review processes for clean growth projects, including related Crown consultations. For 2026-27, CanNor will:

• Act as Crown Consultation Coordinator to facilitate and coordinate federal consultation efforts with Indigenous Peoples to support federal regulators and decision-makers in meeting their duty to consult. CanNor will also maintain the Crown consultation record. CanNor will act in this role throughout impact assessment processes for applicable northern clean growth projects and continue this role into federal permitting processes to provide continuous and consistent consultation support, as needed.
• Convene key partners, including federal regulators, territorial governments, Indigenous governments and organizations, proponents and/or regulatory review boards, to focus on issues management and resolution through impact assessment processes and into federal permitting.