Thank you.
Some of the new public engagement steps that arise with the new act include, first and foremost, a 45-day period wherein the agency reviews a proponent's project description to determine whether an EA is in fact required or not. Within this step, there's a public web posting of the project description and a 20-day public comment period. This provides an early opportunity for Canadians to learn about the proposed projects in their communities and regions, and that in fact is an opportunity that did not exist under the former act.
Regional media in particular are picking up on the public notices that are posted to the registry from this phase of the EA, helping to ensure that Canadians are aware of proposed projects and of opportunities to participate in the review process. We're finding that the project descriptions, which are usually a summary of about 50 pages, are at a level of detail that is well suited to promoting public understanding and input.