A group of concerned citizens say the federal government wants to trash the environmental process.
But Canada’s Natural Resources Minister says changes will make it more effective.
Minister Joe Oliver was in Thunder Bay Thursday to highlight the government’s economic action plan and the importance of natural resources. He also spoke about modernizing regulations as a way to stimulate that sector, which he says could generate $500 billion in the next decade.
But around a dozen protesters outside of the Valhalla Inn weren’t buying it.
“Of course mining and resource development is important for Canadians but pulling all the oil and all the tar and all the metals out of the ground as quick as we can and selling them to foreign entities, it’s not the best way to develop economically and it’s a disaster for the environment,” said Paul Berger.
In a brief interview with local media, Oliver said creating one environmental process and capping it at two years of review is enough. And the federal government will ensure that the assessment is complete, independent and based on science.
“We don’t think that regulatory review has to go on forever we think that an adequate time has to be given,” he said. ““Duplicate of reviews doesn’t mean more effective environmental review it just means you’ve got a few people looking at the same project.”
The proposal has millions of dollars that will actually enhance the process and will ensure more audits on things like tankers Oliver said.
“I don’t believe them,” Berger said.
Berger said he would be happy to see a more streamlined and effective process but arbitrarily putting timelines on the process will be bad for major projects such as the proposed Ring of Fire development.
“It’s unrealistic and it’s a recipe for disaster,” he said.
Oliver said certain exceptions could be made but didn’t know what could mean because legislation hasn’t been passed yet.
“We want timelines that are real, that are enforceable and that will apply in the vast majority of cases,” he said.
