Who is David Schindler and what does he know anyway?

[CEAA-LCÉE] The Harper Decade: The Erosion of Environmental Protection and Public Environmental Information

Read, or listen to, this devastating commentary from the great David Schindler.

http://www.theharperdecade.com/blog/2015/4/18/the-erosion-of-environmental-protection-and-public-environmental-information

THE HARPER DECADE
CANADA HAS CHANGED


The Erosion of Environmental Protection and Public Environmental Information

MAY 07, 2015 BY DAVID SCHINDLER

The Navigable Waters Protection Act

The Navigable Waters Protection Act was weakened via its inclusion in an omnibus bill. It became the Navigation Protection Act, removing provisions that would have challenged or delayed the construction of pipelines, bridges, dams and other major projects in order to protect navigation. 

These same provisions were historically important to protecting aquatic ecosystems from harm. Most of the discussion in parliamentary committee regarding this topic was about expediting industrial development, not about protecting the environment, navigation, or the rights of indigenous people potentially affected by the changes.

The Harper Government has used omnibus bills to reduce protection of Canadian wildlife, plants, and their habitats, including marine habitats, by eliminating consultation with experts and concerned stakeholders and putting decision-making in the hands of politicians and their appointees. 

These changes have been made to ease the way for industrial development, and have the additional benefit of reducing citizen involvement and understanding in the process.