VANCOUVER, BC – Today’s encouraging announcement by the federal government to review Canada’s environmental assessment legislation, including the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act and National Energy Board Act, must result in a true climate test for fossil fuel infrastructure projects.

“Canada needs to start looking at whether or not the infrastructure we’re building has any place in a world that meets its climate goals,” said Peter McCartney, Climate Campaigner at the Wilderness Committee.

In January, the government announced it would review climate impacts of proposed projects, however, at the moment it does not consider the carbon pollution from the burning of Canada’s fossil fuel exports — which make up the vast majority of emissions. This fabricates a case for pipelines and LNG terminals that is at odds with a safe climate.

“Creative carbon accounting does not change the fact that fossil fuel projects just aren’t relevant anymore,” said McCartney. “A true climate test would include all this carbon pollution.”

New expert panels will review four key pieces of legislation, with the hope of restoring public confidence in the regulatory process and environmental oversight. The public will have the opportunity to provide input on the mandate of the panels over the next 30 days. Parliamentary committees will also review the Fisheries Act and the Navigable Waters Protection Act — legislation that was gutted under the former conservative government — in order to restore any lost protections.

“This review is long overdue given how the former government rigged Canada’s environmental assessments in favour of the proponent,” said McCartney. “But if the current process isn’t good enough for future projects, then why is it still being applied to two pipelines currently under review?”

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For more information, please contact:

Peter McCartney | Climate Campaigner, Wilderness Committee
778-239-1935, peter@wildernesscommittee.org