Lawyers release report card grading proposed federal environmental law reforms

VANCOUVER, BC, Coast Salish Territories – Following the release of the federal government’s discussion paper outlining proposals to strengthen environmental laws and processes in Canada, West Coast Environmental Law Association has produced a report card grading the proposed reforms against leading-edge recommendations.

The report card assesses the government’s proposals for legislative, regulatory and policy reforms in Canada’s environmental assessment (EA) regime, the National Energy Board (NEB), Fisheries Act and Navigation Protection Act.

Proposals were graded against the recommendations in West Coast’s submissions and responses to the Expert Panels and Parliamentary Standing Committees reviewing the NEB, Fisheries Act and Navigation Protection Act, as well as the 12 Pillars of Next Generation Environmental Assessment – which are based on the collective expertise of EA experts from across the country.

To view the report card, click here.

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For more information, please contact:

Jessica Clogg, Executive Director & Senior Counsel
604-601-2501, jessica_clogg@wcel.org

Anna Johnston, Staff Counsel
604-340-2304, anna_johnston@wcel.org

Linda Nowlan, Staff Counsel
604-684-7378 ext. 217, linda_nowlan@wcel.org

Additional resources:

Press Release: Proposed federal environmental law reforms fall short of the mark, need more work

Proceedings of the Federal Environmental Assessment Reform Summit (including the 12 Pillars of Next-Generation Environmental Assessment)

Paddling Together: Co-Governance Models for Regional Cumulative Effects Management

WCELA Submission to Expert Panel on NEB Modernization

Modernizing the Fisheries Act: Sustaining healthy fisheries, waters and economies

WCELA Brief on Review of Public Navigation Rights in Canada