By Canadian Press

Environmental groups criticize government walk-back on pollution impact assessment

May 2, 2024 | 11:08 AM

OTTAWA — Environmental groups are criticizing the Liberal government’s planned amendments to the federal Impact Assessment Act.

The groups said in a letter to cabinet ministers today that Ottawa isn’t fulfilling its responsibility to protect Canadians from pollution.

The government is seeking to limits the scope of the legislation and remove a requirement for federal assessments of projects that produce air pollution across provincial lines.

The changes are outlined in proposed legislation to implement this year’s federal budget. 

They come in response to a Supreme Court ruling in October that said the act ventured too far into provincial jurisdiction. 

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The environmental groups say the changes went further than the Supreme Court required.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 2, 2024.

Simon Hopkins, The Canadian Press