A new research paper was published on FACETS on November 3, 2025, analysing the environmental impact assessment process for Canadian mines. The paper presents the first complete list of IA laws that apply to mining in Canada; provides an open-source database of mine and quarry projects subject to IA; quantifies mining and IA trends; and assesses availability of information by jurisdiction. The database includes 266 assessments of 227 projects under 13 jurisdictions proposed from 1974 to 2023.
The article was accompanied by an op-ed in the Policy Options Politiques and a feature on the Quirks and Quarks show on CBCListen.
Alana Westwood, lead author of the report, said in a recent interview with CBC, “When we’re talking about starting new projects, there are what’s called ‘cumulative effects.'” “Pollution or contamination from a mine can build up over time, reaching dangerous thresholds,” she added.
Ben Collison, a Ph.D. student at Dalhousie University and Co-author of the paper added, “If that’s the case, I think we risk making decisions that are not well informed by evidence.”
For complete details on the project, you can visit the Mines, Mines and More Mines project page.
Westwood Lab 