B.C. plans shortened 20-month environmental reviews for infrastructure projects | Daily Hive

B.C. government to shorten environmental assessment review timeline for major infrastructure projects to 20 months

Concept of the new replacement George Massey Tunnel. (Government of B.C.)

The Government of British Columbia is exploring a faster path for approving major infrastructure projects, launching a public consultation on a proposed streamlined environmental assessment process that could significantly cut review times.

The Environmental Assessment Office (EAO), the provincial government’s independent office that oversees project reviews, is proposing that high-priority infrastructure projects could move through assessments more quickly.

The proposal centres on projects flagged under the new Infrastructure Projects Act — legislation designed to accelerate initiatives considered important to the B.C. economy, environment, or communities. Under the new expedited and streamlined model of fixed-phase review timelines, these projects could be reviewed through a condensed process lasting about 20 months or 1.7 years — substantially shorter than the typical three to five years.

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The provincial government asserts the goal is to strike a balance between efficiency and rigour.

Major projects would still undergo comprehensive evaluation, including impacts on ecosystems, local communities, and First Nations considerations, as required under the Environmental Assessment Act.

The EAO has opened a consultation period to gather feedback from a wide range of groups, including First Nations, industry representatives, local governments, environmental organizations, and the public. An online survey will remain open until April 13, 2026.

The EAO emphasized that consultation with First Nations will remain a central component of the process, in line with provincial government’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act.

Not every project would be eligible. To qualify, proponents must demonstrate that their projects are well advanced before entering the assessment phase, including completed studies and early engagement with affected communities and Indigenous groups.

The provincial government asserts that prioritizing projects at a high degree of readiness could reduce bottlenecks and deliver benefits — such as improved infrastructure, economic growth, or environmental gains — more quickly.

While the proposal promises efficiency, it is likely to face scrutiny from environmental advocates concerned about whether faster timelines could limit thorough review or public participation.

A final decision on the framework is expected after consultations conclude later this year.

bc streamlined environmental assessment review process

Changes to B.C.’s environmental assessment review process. (Government of B.C.)

Overhauling the EAO review timeline and process is one of six measures identified under the Infrastructure Projects Act for speeding up permitting and approvals for both public and private projects deemed essential to the province’s growth and resilience.

The other five measures entail the ability to automatically issue some provincial permits after an environmental assessment certificate is received, as well as priority permitting reviews, the use of qualified professionals to certify provincial standard compliance, the ability for local governments to ask the provincial governemnt to temporarily waive provincial land use planning rules, and a framework for faster agreements between local governments and project proponents.

Overseeing such changes under the Infrastructure Projects Act has been a key priority for the B.C Ministry of Infrastructure, which is separate from the provincial government’s Ministry of Transit and Transportation and the Ministry of Environment and Parks.

This also comes as the provincial government’s major project to build the new George Massey Tunnel is being held up by the current environmental assessment review process.

Last year, the EAO noted that its review of the tunnel project was not expected to reach full completion until Fall 2026. The review process began in 2021 and was originally expected to conclude as early as late 2024 or by the end of 2025. The provincial government had previously indicated that major construction would begin in 2026, but this milestone cannot be achieved until the EAO issues an environmental assessment certificate.

The certificate would likely include a number of legally mandated conditions, particularly for a complex project involving the excavation of an underwater trench across the Fraser River bed for its eight-lane immersed tunnel design, as well as the large temporary staging and manufacturing areas required for fabricating the tunnel segments.

Concept visual of the manufacturing facility on Deas Island for the new George Massey Tunnel segments. (Government of B.C.)

Now, the project increasingly appears to be facing major cost overruns on its $4.15-billion budget — which is now a years-old figure first established before the steep pandemic-induced inflationary cycle — as well as a delayed construction start and/or an extended construction timeline.

Last month, the provincial government’s 2026 budget hinted at potential changes to both the cost and timeline for constructing the new Highway 99 tunnel. It noted that an updated cost estimate and implementation timeline are forthcoming, but only after detailed design work and contract negotiations with the selected contractor are completed.

In July 2024, the provincial government announced that following a bidding process, it had selected a private consortium called Cross Fraser Partnership to build the tunnel.

The consortium is led by the Canadian division of France-based Bouygues Construction, in partnership with Spanish construction company Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas, Quebec-based Pomerleau, architectural and engineering firm Arcadis (formerly known as IBI Group), and Netherlands-based dredging and marine services firm Boskalis. Bouygues is perhaps best known for its involvement in building the Chunnel between the United Kingdom and France.

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