Overhaul of environmental assessment
Posted Apr 17, 2012 4:41 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Ottawa is taking steps to ensure that major projects, like pipelines aren’t needlessly delayed by environmental assessments.
They will still take place if required but under the new rules, reviews must be completed within a maximum of two years.
Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver says the changes will create jobs and growth.
Ottawa will also recognize provincial assessments on projects if they meet federal standards and will cut the number of review agencies from 40 down to three.
Saskatchewan’s premier says he supports the major overhaul.
Brad Wall says the province does not want less rigorous environmental assessments, but wants to remove duplication of work.
Wall says there are stories of mines being held up because a man-made tailing pond has one fish.
He says that causes months of delays because federal departments and provincial ministries both do reviews.
