Many have been calling on Premier David Eby and the BC NDP to reconsider Bill 15 before sending it through the Legislative Assembly, saying it could be detrimental to environmental protections.
Bill 15 is titled the ‘Infrastructure Projects Act’, and was designed to combat the onset of President Donald Trump’s tariffs against Canada.
The bill, in essence, will see red tape cut, streamlining infrastructure projects of all types—especially those deemed “provincially significant.”
This puts power in the hands of the Minister of Infrastructure, to choose which projects should be expedited based on their merits to the provincial economy.
However, environmental advocacy groups, the BC Greens and the BC Conservatives are all saying that as written, Bill 15 provides powers to the government that are too broad in streamlining specific projects.
It was introduced on May 6th, without notice. The BC NDP pushed it through before it could be fully reviewed, which the BC Green Party says deprives the Legislative Assembly of the ability to consider and scrutinize the bill.
The BC Greens want to see the bill passed, but want the chance to amend it appropriately before it comes into effect, saying as it stands now, the bill is “deeply flawed.”.
Meanwhile, the BC Conservatives had hoped that the torn Legislative Assembly on this bill may have been an opportunity to have a vote for no confidence in the BC NDP, which could topple their newly formed government.
The Sierra Club of BC says that this bill sacrifices public input, environmental concerns and the consultation of First Nations as a reaction to the US-imposed tariffs.
Additionally, they worry that in the wrong hands, this bill could be used to push through pipelines and LNG projects that would be detrimental to the environment and First Nations communities.
This organization wishes it was not pushed through the legislature so abruptly and hopes the government will move to amend it as soon as possible.
“Sierra Club BC is calling on the B.C. government to amend Bill 15 in the next legislative session, so that Indigenous consultation, due process, and adequate environmental assessments are enshrined in law and not vulnerable to weakening in the future,” said Shelley Luce, Director of Programs for Sierra Club BC.
Sierra Club BC wants to see the following steps taken in regards to Bill 15 and its amendments:
- Ample consultation with First Nations throughout BC
- Clear definition of what constitutes a “provincially significant” project
- Prohibition on using the bill expediting LNG, pipeline and mining projects
- Guarantees that the bill will somehow protect Indigenous sovereignty and environmental standards within the approval and permitting processes
“The continued emphasis on weakening environmental safeguards and due process for resource extraction projects will not help Canadians – it will only make us more vulnerable to deadly and costly climate impacts like drought, wildfires and more,” concluded Luce.
Similar to Sierra Club BC’s reaction to Bill 15, environmental lawyers with West Coast Environmental Law say this bill could be dangerous in the wrong hands—it was noted however, that the way the BC NDP intend to use the bill is to fast-track clean energy projects, as well as healthcare and education facilities.
“While government says Bill 15 is about building hospitals or schools, mining companies are lining up to use it to bypass BC’s environmental laws, often for highly lucrative gold mines that might produce small amounts of critical minerals almost as a by-product,” said Andrew Gage, Staff Lawyer, West Coast Environmental Law.
“Rushing environmental approvals or allowing industry to negotiate new requirements with government agencies might seem like a good idea in the short term – but could result in another mining disaster like Mount Polley in the long run.”
Gage added that if the Province had started by focussing on streamlining approvals for hospitals and schools, it could have then taken the time to meet its legal obligations to work cooperatively with First Nations and the public on laws addressing other types of projects.
He warns that ultimately, Bill 15 is too vague and too powerful.
