What are the reasons for requiring an environmental assessment ?

The environmental assessment may be required for different reasons, but particularly because:

• the law states that an owner must be held accountable for the cleanliness of the soil of his immovable property;
• the real estate market and banks require an environmental assessment for commercial and industrial properties;
• the CMHC requires an environmental assessment for buildings of seven units and more;
• following the sale of an immovable property, the owner may be sued by the purchaser if the latter discovers that the soil is contaminated;
• the soil of an immovable property that has already been heated with oil might contain an old tank that is still buried down there or contaminants.