Environmental Deregulation

- Monday, March 23, 2009

Environment bulldozed by infrastructure in federal spending spree

Last month, Canada had a 100-year old law to protect its waterways. This month, environmental legislation is being dismantled piece by piece, in what can be described as one of the largest federal spending sprees on record. To make matters worse, there’s no sign of this attack against protective regulations coming to a stop. The ongoing deregulation of our environment in the name of short-term economic recovery puts our communities, our heritage, our ecosystems and our future at risk.

In February 2009, the Harper government tabled a budget that included a major overhaul of the Navigable Waters Protection Act, an important piece of federal legislation that triggers environmental assessments for development projects. To the shock of the public, First Nations communities, environmentalists, conservationists, and the MPs and Senators that voted loudly against the bill, the Budget Act, along with its embedded gutting of environmental legislation, was passed without public consultation or scrutiny. Federal Members of Parliament and Senators have gone on record saying “environmental protection measures have no business in a budget bill”, and yet, we witnessed a shameful and deceptive attack against our environment and our public rights, in a closed-door process that was less than fair, and less than transparent.

In March, the environment is sold out again as the federal government abandons its obligations under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, under the banner of “economic stimulus”.

Environment Minister, Jim Prentice, recently announced that for the next two years a shocking number of public projects will be exempt from rigorous federal environmental assessments. It’s estimated that environmental assessments will be cut by a whopping 95% to streamline development projects and stimulate the economy. The proposed overhaul of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act supports accusations that once again, Jim Prentice is acting in the best interest of infrastructure and development not the environment.

The federal government is using the economic recession to advance its political agenda, which includes a blatant disregard for the environment.

The ongoing deregulation of our environmental legislation is a concern to everyone who wants to see decisions made in a fair and transparent manner. By introducing changes to important Canadian laws in a closed-door process, the Harper government is sending the message that it has no obligation, or no interest in consulting the public on these very important environmental, economic and social issues. The notion that we cannot afford environmental protection in challenging economic conditions is quickly debunked by economists, environmentalists and the like. Most of us agree that a healthy environment and a healthy economy go hand-in-hand. A sound strategy for advancing both our economy and our environment needs to be developed, instead of forging on with the current plan to spend in haste and bulldoze through protective regulations that prevent such questionable decisions.

We NEED our federal government to represent the best interests of our communities and our environment.

Ottawa Riverkeeper is working collaboratively to oppose the ongoing deregulation of environmental legislation. In addition, we continue to advocate for public consultation, accountability, science-based decision making and public access to information about projects that may affect our communities, our environment and our future.

For more information on the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, and environmental deregulation, please contact us .

Sincerely,

Meredith Brown, Executive Director and Ottawa Riverkeeper