Government Plans to GUT the CEAA and NWPA

According to a federal report obtained by Le Devoir and other information obtained by environmental groups:
•a new environmental assessment bill to replace CEAA would be introduced into the House of Commons in March or April;


•all four of the so-called triggers for environmental assessment (regulatory approval, property transfer, funding, federally managed projects) would be eliminated;

•a short list of categories of projects subject to federal environmental assessment would be set out in a schedule to the new bill;

•environmental assessments would be carried out by the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency, or by the National Energy Board or Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (for pipeline and nuclear projects respectively);

•Environment Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada and other federal agencies would no longer have environmental assessment responsibilities; and

•provincial assessments could substitute for those federal assessments that are required.


“Our knowledge of the contents of the proposed legislation is incomplete,” said SteveHazell of the Sierra Club.

“For example, we don’t know if the government plans to eliminate public hearings for large projects and funding for public participation in environmental assessments. We don’t know whether the government plans to change constitutionally entrenched environmental assessment provisions of aboriginal claims laws, or drop requirements to assess the cumulative effects of projects.“

The Canadian Environmental Assessment Act was enacted by the Conservative government of Brian Mulroney in 1992.

The uncovered federal report does not commit the government to public consultations on the new bill.


Anyone writing to their MP should also include the Opposition critics in their correspondence.

The Environment Critics' role has assumed greater status,they are keen, active, have the ear of their leaders and need to hear from us.

Individual MPs not having environmental responsibilities may not have time.


Linda Duncan is the new NDP Environment Critic
MP, Bruce Hyer, is the deputy critic with particular responsibility for Water -- important as changes to the Navigable Waters rotection Act that are on the table.


http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2009/01/22/environment-ndp.html
http://www.financialpost.com/news/story.html?id=1207155
also
http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Tories+want+environmental+corners/1206431/story.html
http://thetyee.ca/Blogs/TheHook/Environment/2009/01/22/Leakedmemo/
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090122.wPOLenvi0122/BNStory/politics/home

Jamie Kneen
Communications & Outreach Coordinator ofc. (613) 569-3439
MiningWatch Canada cell: (613) 761-2273
250 City Centre Ave., Suite 508 fax: (613) 569-5138
Ottawa, Ontario K1R 6K7 e-mail: jamie@miningwatch.ca
Canada http://www.miningwatch.ca
Skype: jamiekneen