Regional Assessment of Exploratory Oil and Gas Drilling in the Offshore Area of Nova Scotia

The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada will work in close collaboration with Nova Scotia Department of Energy, Natural Resources Canada, and the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Energy Regulator to conduct a regional assessment of exploratory oil and gas drilling in the offshore area of Nova Scotia. The assessment will build on the Regional Assessment of Offshore Wind Development in Nova Scotia (2025) and incorporate relevant learnings from the Regional Assessment of Offshore Oil and Gas Exploratory Drilling East of Newfoundland and Labrador (2020). The regional assessment will serve as a valuable tool to examine the overarching effects of future development activities and inform the federal impact assessment process for offshore oil and gas projects thereby supporting environmental protection and responsible economic development in Nova Scotia.

Latest update

February 13, 2026 — The Honourable Julie Dabrusin, Minister of the Environment, Climate Change and Nature, has authorized the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada, pursuant to the Impact Assessment Act, to work in close collaboration with Nova Scotia Department of Energy, Natural Resources Canada, and the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Energy Regulator to conduct a regional assessment of exploratory oil and gas drilling in the offshore area of Nova Scotia.

Participate

Key documents

Key documents
Document number Document title File Date
2 Minister's Response - February 11, 2026
1 From the Premier of Nova Scotia to the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada re: Regional Assessment for Petroleum Offshore Nova Scotia PDF (460 KB) December 1, 2025

Contacts

Media Relations
Impact Assessment Agency of Canada
160 Elgin Street, 22nd Floor
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0H3
Email: media@iaac-aeic.gc.ca

Regional Assessment of Exploratory Oil and Gas Drilling in the Offshore Area of Nova Scotia
Impact Assessment Agency of Canada
200-1801 Hollis Street
Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 3N4
Telephone: 1-866-582-1884
Email: NSOffshoreDrilling-NEForageEnMer@iaac-aeic.gc.ca


Disclaimer

This map is for illustrative purposes. The markers represent the approximate locations based on available data. More than one marker may be identified for a given assessment.

  • Location

    • Offshore area of Nova Scotia (Nova Scotia)

  • Nature of Activity

    • Oil and Gas

  • Assessment Status

    In progress

  • Start Date

    2026-02-13

  • Proponent

    Not applicable

  • Authorities

    • Not applicable

  • Assessment Type

    Regional Assessment

  • Reference Number

    90228

Nearby assessments

...within 200 kilometres
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