Federal Proposal Would Cut Environmental Protection
Tell the federal government to strengthen - not rollback - environmental protection
On May 8th the government released a discussion paper proposing to significantly cut federal assessment, approval and permitting processes used to protect the environment and allow Canadians to participate in decisions on major and high-risk projects. The deadline for comments has been extended to July 22nd, 2026.
Tell the government that it should develop, with meaningful public and Indigenous consultation, reforms that actually strengthen – not rollback – environmental safeguards so that Canada’s people and ecosystems are strong and healthy in the future.
What is being proposed?
The federal government wants to fast-track approval of major projects by compressing all decision-making into a one year timeline.
Pipeline projects and electricity transmission lines would be completely exempt from critical impact assessments.
Nuclear and uranium projects would be handed off to the industry’s own regulator, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, to assess their own environmental impacts, raising serious concerns about independence and conflict of interest.
Decision-making authority over major projects would be concentrated in the hands of one minister, generally removing the requirement for Cabinet-level deliberations.
The creation of broad “Federal Economic Zones” that would pre-approve a range of industrial development, eliminating individual project assessments.
Construction activities could begin on major projects before environmental assessments are even completed.
Why Does It Matter?
Big projects carry big risks: Rushed and arbitrary timelines may pressure proponents and federal authorities to skip essential steps and shortchange the review of environmental risks that complex, high-hazard projects genuinely require.
Putting the cart before the horse: Starting construction before assessments are even completed means the full picture of a project’s impact on species, waterways and ecosystems may not be known before damage is already done.
Creating sacrifice zones: Pre-approving zones for industrial development ignores the potential for substantive cumulative effects – the combined environmental impact of multiple projects in a single area.
Fox guarding the henhouse: Removing independent assessment of pipelines, transmission lines and nuclear projects eliminates critical third-party scrutiny of potentially risky projects with the potential to cause wide-scale environmental harm.
TAKEACTION
Submit a Comment
The federal government comment period has been extended until July 22nd, 2026.
Read the discussion paper here, the send your comments by email to engagement@pco-bcp.gc.ca
You don’t need to be limited to the guidance questions suggested by the government. Feel free to use the points raised in this action alert to frame your own feedback. The most important thing is to say something in your own words – personalized comments carry significantly more weight than form letters.
CELA’s full submission is available here. Read CELA’s blog about the discussion paper here.
The government has publicly committed to “moving quickly to introduce legislation following the engagement period”, so it’s critical they hear that Canadians want stronger environmental protections, not rollbacks.
Action Alert: Federal Proposal Would Cut Environmental Protection
ACTION ALERT:
Federal Proposal Would Cut Environmental Protection
Tell the federal government to strengthen - not rollback - environmental protection
On May 8th the government released a discussion paper proposing to significantly cut federal assessment, approval and permitting processes used to protect the environment and allow Canadians to participate in decisions on major and high-risk projects. The deadline for comments has been extended to July 22nd, 2026.
Tell the government that it should develop, with meaningful public and Indigenous consultation, reforms that actually strengthen – not rollback – environmental safeguards so that Canada’s people and ecosystems are strong and healthy in the future.
What is being proposed?
Why Does It Matter?
TAKE ACTION
Submit a Comment
The federal government comment period has been extended until July 22nd, 2026.
Read the discussion paper here, the send your comments by email to engagement@pco-bcp.gc.ca
You don’t need to be limited to the guidance questions suggested by the government. Feel free to use the points raised in this action alert to frame your own feedback. The most important thing is to say something in your own words – personalized comments carry significantly more weight than form letters.
CELA’s full submission is available here.
Read CELA’s blog about the discussion paper here.
The government has publicly committed to “moving quickly to introduce legislation following the engagement period”, so it’s critical they hear that Canadians want stronger environmental protections, not rollbacks.
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