Save the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act from further gutting!
- by: Douglas Channel Watch
- recipient: Honourable Peter Kent, Minister of the Environment
This remains an URGENT issue! Signatures gathered prior to March 29th have been delivered to the target. There are indeed sweeping changes to this act discussed in the federal budget. These changes are NOT acceptable, nor democratic. Please read on and continue to sign and share this petition. Canada thanks you.
The Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA) is facing great risk of further being dismantled.This act is linked to dozens of other pieces of legislation which protect national parks, endangered species and fish habitat, to name a few. Its purpose is to protect Canadians and their environment from harmful impacts.
On March 13, 2012, a report was published by the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development. This report was based on a review that was terminated before it was completed. Key stakeholders were not invited to participate or were denied upon request. If accepted, the report recommendations will impose the following disastrous changes:
1) At the sole discretion of the minister, larger projects (eg. Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline proposal) will no longer require scientific input. Gone are the days of checks and balances, which are essential to any democracy.
2) Consultation with the public and First Nations will be `streamlined` to expedite large industrial projects (eg. Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline proposal)
3) Parts of the act that consider the capacity of renewable resources, and allow a review of alternatives to the proposed project, will be eliminated.
4) Provinces that have assessment procedures in place - regardless of their adequacy or the different standards across the country - will be the sole reviewer, eliminating the federal government’s place in what is currently a joint, more standardized process.
We the undersigned,
Thank you for taking the time to read this empowered opinion and subsequent demand from your fellow Canadians.
We respectfully insist that the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act(CEAA) receives a meaningful, democratic and scientific review including First Nation, public and expert consultation before any recommendations or changes are made. It is not acceptable, nor democratic to sneak changes to this or any other Canadian law, through the omnibus budget bill on March 29, 2012.
On March 13, 2012, a report was published by the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development. It is known that this report was based on a review that was terminated before it was completed and that key stakeholders were not invited to participate or were denied upon request. It is our opinion that this review and subsequent report is gravely lacking of substance and that it is a reflection of a flawed process. We are in turn extremely concerned and shocked at the short sightedness and shallow content of the 20 recommendations that appear in this report.
We strongly believe that in the best interest of the environment and the welfare of future generations, these recommendations should not be accepted or inform any changes made to the CEAA.It is our belief that if accepted, these recommendations for changes to the CEAA would placeCanada back to where we stood in the early 1970's with very little means to monitor the impact industrial expansion has on our natural heritage, our wildlife and our own sustained health and welfare.
Industry, development and a strong and growing economy are key aspects of any healthy nation but must be achieved in harmony with protecting and respecting the citizen’s right to democracy, welfare and a healthy environment. Respectfully, we demand that the statutory review of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act be re-opened and renewed in such a way that it receives the democratic, scientific and expert input as well as First Nations and public involvement that it deserves before any changes are made.
We stand in solidarity that the current report and recommendations are unacceptable.
It is our sincere hope and expectation, that these concerns and demands made by your fellow citizens in this great, democratic country will be met with a just action and response.
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