Canadian Environmental Assessment Act will need rehab

OTTAWA -- The Green Party of Canada has responded ‘absolutely yes!’ to major national environmental groups who have requested that all party leaders commit to restoring and reforming the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA).

CEAA will be gutted through the upcoming budget implementation legislation; legislation that will pass given the reluctance to enter into an election.  Bill C-9 will allow the narrowing of environmental assessments to the point of meaninglessness while other bills in the works will give the Minister of Environment full discretion as to what projects should be assessed.

“A lot of damage is occurring to our environmental laws that will need to be repaired once this government’s reign is over.  The work of environmental groups highlighting the need to resuscitate CEAA is important and timely and the Greens will do all they can to help.  It is sad that we have accepted the current government will do nothing for environmental protection,” said Leader Elizabeth May. “But we must keep hope alive for the future.”

A letter from groups including Sierra Club Canada, Ecojustice, Environmental Defence and others has asked for all parties to band together to restore the environmental assessment law as soon as possible.

“CEAA was put in place to ensure science-based, comprehensive environmental assessments for potentially damaging projects,” said May. “Once the Conservative government achieves their goal, even large-scale projects such as a tar sands mine will be pushed ahead with almost no scrutiny of the environmental effects. To sneak these changes into a budget bill is disingenuous and a flawed means of governing.”

The Green Party commits to working tirelessly to restore environmental assessment law so that the original intent of the law is honoured.

Contact Information:
Debra Eindiguer
Press Secretary
C: 613.240.8921
media@greenparty.ca