As part of the legislation to implement the 2024 Budget, the federal government has proposed changes to the Impact Assessment Act. The changes follow last October's Supreme Court ruling that deemed parts of the Impact Assessment Act unconstitutional. Under the proposed changes, trans-boundary greenhouse gas emissions from proposed major industrial projects will no longer trigger federal environmental reviews. Legal experts and environmental organizations raised concerns that the federal government was abandoning its role in regulating GHG emissions.
- Media Release Environmental experts raise alarm over weakening of Impact Assessment Act (Ecojustice | West Coast Environmental Law | MiningWatch)
- News Green groups outraged after Ottawa changes the rules on environmental assessments (CBC News)
- News Environmental groups criticize government walk-back on pollution impact assessment (Canadian Press/Yahoo! News)
- News Ottawa Cedes Authority Over GHG Emissions in Impact Assessment Act Amendments (The Energy Mix)
- News Ottawa weakens impact assessment law to dodge court battles (National Observer)
- Opinion Feds Run Away From Impact Assessment — and Environmental Protection (Nature Canada)
- Analysis Constitutional Caution, Correction, and Abdication: The Proposed Amendments to the Impact Assessment Act (ABlawg.ca)