Public feedback is being sought on a proposed environmental process for major projects which has become highly controversial.
This matter stems primarily from Bill 15, the Infrastructure Projects Act, which would effectively bypass several steps in environmental assessment when seeking approval for any infrastructure deemed to be a “major project.”
Numerous First Nations organizations in BC have called this proposed act an erosion of Indigenous rights, arguing it will essentially “steamroll” any Indigenous rights, bypassing early engagement and consensus-seeking phases of assessment.
“If passed into law, Bill 15 would give greater powers to Cabinet to expedite the approval of projects it deems to be ‘provincially significant,'” wrote the First Nations Leadership Council and Union of BC Municipalities in a media release.
“First Nations and local governments have expressed concern with the lack of consultation prior to the legislation being drafted.”
Some critics even allege that the act would be in violation of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA), which the BC government is currently also trying to tweak in order to bypass intervention from the courts.
Despite First Nations speaking out that critical Indigenous rights will be trampled on by this, the Province has said that they will continue to maintain high environmental standards and their obligations to consult with First Nations.
The BC Green Party and environmental groups like West Coast Environmental Law have also come out and said that Bill 15 would reduce oversight and transparency, give too much discretion to the Province and avoid regulations that have been put in place for a reason.
BC’s justification for Bill 15 is that it will help build infrastructure faster, citing schools, hospitals and clean energy projects as examples rather than LNG plants, mining operations and pipelines.
They noted that timelines for the construction of these major projects could be reduced by 60% with the bypassing of some environmental assessment steps.
Now people will be able to provide their own feedback on the proposed Bill 15.
Members of the public can fill out an online survey from Tuesday, March 10th, to Monday, April 13th, on the Environmental Assessment Office’s public engagement website.
