Dalhousie University researchers in Halifax have compiled the first-ever national database tracking environmental impact assessments (IAs) for Canadian mines and quarries over nearly five decades. The findings point to widespread gaps in transparency, consistency and public access to information.
The database, published in the journal FACETS, catalogues 266 impact assessments for 227 mining and quarrying projects proposed between 1974 and 2023 across 13 federal, provincial and territorial jurisdictions. The projects span commodities from coal, peat and oil sands in earlier decades to today’s surge in demand for gold, silver and critical minerals such as copper and nickel.
“There is a patchwork of IA regimes and public registries across Canada that collect and share relevant documents associated with mining development,” the study states.
Canada currently has roughly 200 active mines and 6,500 quarries producing 60 different commodities, the study states. Larger new projects typically undergo environmental assessments to predict potential impacts and help regulators decide whether to approve them and under what conditions.
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But the research team — led by Dr. Alana Westwood of Dalhousie’s School for Resource and Environmental Studies and PhD candidate Ben Collison — found notable shortcomings in how those assessments are documented and shared. Despite legal requirements in many jurisdictions to make assessment information public, about 20% of project files were either incomplete or unavailable.
“Due to the incompleteness of regulator registries, there are many data gaps in both the list of projects and the key metrics we extracted,” the study states. “Nevertheless, researchers can use our database to further elaborate on jurisdictional, economic, and policy trends.”
The team also uncovered inconsistencies when comparing mine impact assessments submitted to provincial and federal regulators for the same project. Some 60% of paired assessments showed major discrepancies in project size, footprint or duration, raising questions about regulatory alignment.
Westwood and Collison say impact assessment processes could play a central role in data sharing and public engagement as Canada advances new industrial developments, including mines needed for the clean energy transition. They argue that better coordination among governments would help position Canada as a global leader in responsible resource development.
The new database is now available to policymakers, regulators, researchers and the public as a tool to better understand the environmental implications of mining across the country. The authors expand on their recommendations in a recent Policy Options commentary.
