Victoria—Changes to the federal environmental assessment process, along with deep budget cuts, will weaken environmental protection in British Columbia say the B.C. New Democrats.
“It seems that the B.C. Liberals have been quietly lobbying for measures in the federal budget, including changes which will reduce the ability of British Columbians to participate in the environmental assessment process,” said New Democrat environment critic Rob Fleming. “They are on the wrong side of history and acting contrary to the beliefs of British Columbians who are deeply committed to protecting the environment for future generations.”
Adrian Dix and the New Democrats raised the issue of federal moves to weaken environmental laws in Question Period and estimates debate in the B.C. Legislature this week. While the B.C. Liberals dodged questions and refused to say that B.C. would resist expected changes that would weaken the Fisheries Act, their November 2011 submission to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act review supports changes that would reduce the likelihood of projects triggering a federal assessment. The elimination of habitat protections in the Fisheries Act, which many expect to be introduced soon, will do just that.
“The B.C. Liberals rubber stamped the Fish Lake mine proposal despite the fact that it would have killed tens of thousands of fish and devastated an entire ecosystem,” said Fleming. “The federal assessment recommended against the project – a decision which Premier Clark called ‘dumb.’ The expected changes to the Fisheries Act and the changes federal environmental assessment process in this week's budget are specifically designed to remove impediments to projects such as the Fish Lake mine, regardless of how devastating those projects are to fish and the environment.
“It’s unbelievable that the Liberal Environment Minister, Terry Lake, has given a thumbs-up to a federal budget that will slash more than $200 million from scientists and federal agencies that are responsible for protecting the environment over the next three years. His support of the budget and proposed changes to the assessment process that will silence the voices of British Columbians, shows that he can't be trusted to protect the environment.”
Fleming is in the Comox Valley where he is attending the National Energy Board hearings on Enbridge. He is also speaking at a 'No Tankers' rally today. Fleming says he is concerned that the B.C. Liberals and the federal government are changing the rules midway through the Enbridge review in order to force the project through, which also raises questions about the future of the moratorium on bulk crude oil tanker traffic off our north coast.
“British Columbians aren’t interested in sacrificing their coastal environment for a project that offers them few benefits and substantial environmental risks,” said Fleming. “Premier Clark and the B.C. Liberals need to tell British Columbians where they stand on the Enbridge project and let the people of this province know whether they think it is acceptable to change the rules midway through the process.”