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ACAIA is pleased to present our third Spring Speaker Series presentation, next week, Thursday, June 12 at 2 pm (ATL)!
Join us as Dr. Steve Bonnell (IAAC/MUN) shares his IAIA25 presentation, entitled "Regional Assessments: Implications for IA Effectiveness and Efficiency (incl Cumulative Effects….)"
Presentation Overview:
The Impact Assessment Act includes provisions for the planning and conduct of regional assessments (RAs) and their consideration in subsequent project impact assessments (IAs). Experience to date suggests that there are various potential objectives, approaches, outcomes and uses for such RAs, as well as often diverse views amongst participants around what an RA can be and should deliver. On the one hand, RAs are often seen as an important tool for improving the comprehensiveness and effectiveness of IA processes, helping address complex regional issues that are difficult to assess and manage through project-specific IAs alone. At the same time, they are viewed by some as a means of streamlining and expediting project IAs and associated decision-making, including as part of “federal efforts needed to accelerate regulatory efficiency for clean growth projects” as per a recent federal Cabinet Directive (July 2024).
This presentation will explore these issues in the context of IAAC’s RA program, including how RA planning and conduct reflect the dual but inter-related objectives of improving both IA “effectiveness” and “efficiency”. This will include the role of RAs in assessing and managing cumulative effects, and approaches to maximining their utility for this purpose. It will highlight some key principles, considerations, and lessons from practice to help inform future RA planning, conduct and use.
Presenter Bio:
Dr. Steve Bonnell is with the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC), where he leads an on-going research initiative related to the planning and conduct of regional and strategic assessments under the Impact Assessment Act. He is experienced impact assessment (IA) practitioner, researcher and teacher, with over 25 years’ experience working in IA in industry, government and academia. He holds a PhD in IA from the University of Dundee, Scotland, as well as Bachelors and Masters degrees in Geography from Memorial University of Newfoundland, where he is currently an Adjunct Professor. Dr. Bonnell has published and presented extensively on IA theory and practice, with a focus on improving the efficacy of IA processes, methods and outputs, including the associated use of strategic and regional assessments.
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