New Environmental Assessment rules call for additional consultation with First Nations

George Heyman, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy
introduced the NDP government's reworking of the province's
Environmental Assessment process on Monday afternoon

MLA's have some new guidelines for Environmental Assessments to review and eventually turn into legislation this session.

That after  Environment  and Climate Change Strategy Minister George Heyman delivered the final results of a one year consultation process towards what the NDP government is calling the modernization of the environmental process of major resource projects in the province.

“By revitalizing our environmental assessment process, we’re striking a better balance for our province, where good projects that respect B.C.’s environment, Indigenous peoples and the public will be approved more quickly ... Our province was built upon the wealth of natural resources at our disposal. This legislation reaffirms the continued importance of these resources to British Columbians and enhances public trust by engaging people and communities early to ensure our resources are used sustainably. Growing a strong economy and protecting the environment we all cherish go hand in hand. That’s the legacy we want our kids and grand kids to inherit.”--

One area of focus for the new EA process will be to pursue reconciliation with the Indigenous peoples of the province, part of the NDP government's commitment to implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

“Having Indigenous collaboration from the beginning means a more certain and efficient process where good projects can move forward more quickly, providing benefits to Indigenous peoples while respecting their rights, values and culture. 

We want to reduce the potential for the types of legal challenges we’ve too frequently seen in B.C. These have impacted our province’s economic development, eroded public trust, alienated Indigenous communities and left project proponents trying to navigate through a costly, time-consuming process.”

Should the legislation pass, Heyman noted that it will result in an EA process that delivers timely, evidence based decisions where the public can more actively participate.

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Among some of the other elements that the legislation will also provide for include:

Increased clarity and certainty to project proponents through an early engagement phase that will identify the focus areas for the project assessment prior to proceeding through an environmental assessment. 

Enhanced public engagement including additional comment periods and earlier collaboration between the Environmental Assessment Office and local communities, coupled with funding to support public participation. 

The ability to more fully assess positive and adverse environmental, economic, social, cultural and health effects, including greenhouse gas emissions, and require their consideration in decisions. 

Strengthened compliance and enforcement for approved projects, along with audits, to make sure conditions included in EA certificates are mitigating identified adverse effects as intended.

The development of the of revisions for the new Environmental Assessment process was conducted over the course of the last year, with consultations taking place with Indigenous peoples, Industry, Local communities, environmental organizations and the general public.

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Environmental Assessments that are already underway will continue under the current process with what the government describes as practical transition provisions.

Members of the Legislature will hold the second reading for the legislation today and then begin the process of discussion of it in the chamber this week.

The notes related to Monday's announcement can be reviewed here.

A wider overview of the new legislation and the changes that it will bring to the process can be explored here.

The video of Mr. Heyman's introduction of the legislation is available from the Chamber Video Archive for Monday at the start of the Afternoon session.

Some notes from the media on the introduction of the Environmental Assessment legislation can be found from our Victoria Viewpoints archive on our political blog D'Arcy McGee.

More items of interest related to the Legislature can be found through our archive page here.

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