If there is a federal trigger, as I mentioned earlier, a federal EA is required, no matter how small the project. I'll use the example of the expansion of a maple syrup operation. Because there is federal funding provided, there is a requirement for a federal environmental assessment of the expansion of the maple syrup operation.
In other jurisdictions, there would be no such requirement for minor projects that are not likely to have adverse environmental impacts and, therefore, resources could be used to assess projects that have a greater potential impact.