Title
WCS Canada Comments - Environmental Assessment Discussion Paper - August 2017
Author(s)
Justina Ray, Cheryl Chetkiewicz, Don Reid and Monica Granados
Published
2017
Abstract
In June, 2016 the Government of Canada announced the launch of a comprehensive review of federal environmental assessment processes associated with the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 (CEAA 2012). Following the work of an expert panel, Canada released a “discussion paper” (https://www.canada.ca/en/services/environment/conservation/assessments/environmental-reviews/share-your-views/proposed-approach.html) outlining “a proposed new approach to environmental assessments and regulatory reviews with a potential path for good projects to proceed in partnership with Indigenous peoples and effective, science-based, enforceable conditions, with clear timelines.” In WCS Canada’s submission, we remarked that although we were encouraged by some signs of good intent (notably the emphases on transparency, attention to cumulative effects, attention to science/evidence, and co-decision-making with Indigenous governments), we expressed significant concerns that the final legislation will fall short – perhaps significantly -- of the intentions set forth in June 2016 by the Government of Canada for this critical law reform. Our comments place particular focus two of the seven themes described in the Discussion Paper: 1) Addressing Cumulative Effects; and 2) Science, Evidence and Indigenous Knowledge. We then consider the proposed changes to the Fisheries Act.
Keywords
Environmental Assessment
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