Environment committee  That's certainly a good question to explore a bit further. My colleague Terry Hubbard can join me in filling in the answer. From a regulatory point of view, whether it's the CNSC or the offshore boards, there are a significant number of safety, technical, engineering, design, construction, and operational components that are material to the assessment of a project.

Environment committee  That's a tough question, but let me give you a quick answer. An impact assessment with an integrated review with a life-cycle regulator ensures a consistency for both the public and those participating in the process, whether it's a mining project, an offshore project, or a nuclear project.

Environment committee  When the government launched its regulatory review, it looked at reviewing the impact assessment agency, the Environmental Assessment Agency, and the energy regulator. It certainly looked at the components around the environmental assessment and its move to move it to one agency, which would then remove the Nuclear Safety Commission as the agency that makes the environmental assessment determination.

Environment committee  Go ahead.

Environment committee  As it currently stands, uranium mines are subject to the Canadian Nuclear Safety and Control Act and require a federal certificate or licence to operate.

Environment committee  If we understand the amendment right, it's suggesting that they would be non-voting, but the panels do not vote in any way, shape, or form. The panels provide recommendations to the minister or to the government. In this instance, they would be made to the government, to make a decision as to whether a project would proceed under the impact assessment act, and in this instance, the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board act.

Environment committee  The composition of the panel is determined by the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, from the roster, of which two would come from the petroleum board members who are on the roster. The balance would be chosen from the minister's roster, and that would be composed of the five people who are on the panel.

Environment committee  Proposed section 253 refers to power lines from one place in the province to another within the province.

Environment committee  Partly. There are two parts. One would be the project list, which automatically designated it. The second is that there's the ability for the commission to designate something, even if it's not on the project list, so that it may be treated as such. It's not dissimilar to what's in the impact assessment act where the minister may designate something that's not on the project list as a designated project.

Environment committee  It exists now, as well, in terms of replication of some of the features.

Environment committee  I'm not sure about the instance you're speaking to, but there's an instance before the board now, the Manitoba-Minnesota transmission project, where there was a choice to designate. The GIC did designate it, and it's being reviewed.

Natural Resources committee  Maybe I can help with that one. I think that's the responsibility of the Department of Transport. I don't know if anybody here is an expert in transport, but we certainly don't have anything to offer on that particular question.

Natural Resources committee  Could you possibly ask a question?

Natural Resources committee  I think the tone of what you're suggesting is there's an evolution. Jurisprudence in anything grows over time and each experience builds on the next. If we look at the jurisprudence and the experience we've had, our policy framework and the advancement of how the government works with, engages with and consults with indigenous communities comes from our Constitution.

Natural Resources committee  If it's okay, I'll invite my colleague from CEAA, the agency that has the main element. We can add to that.