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The Council of Canadian Academies (CCA) has concluded that development of shale gas reserves is having "profound economic, environmental, and social impacts across much of North America". CCA further states that targeted science and management strategies are needed to better understand and mitigate those impacts.

While the Canadian regulatory framework governing shale gas development is evolving, CCA says that "many aspects are not based on strong science and remain untested." In addition, there is no national plan, coordination or federal facilitation of individual provincial efforts to regulate the sector. First Nations’ rights may also be affected in several provinces and need to be considered. CCA concludes that "there can be advantages in the ‘go slow’ approach" currently adopted in several Eastern provinces, and that there are "similar advantages in identifying areas that are too environmentally vulnerable to develop."

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