On March 31, 2020 the Alberta government enacted Ministerial
Orders suspending existing environmental reporting requirements due
to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Ministerial
Orders signed by Environment Minister Jason Nixon states
"All requirements to report information pursuant to
provisions in approvals or registrations are
suspended."
Section 52.1 of the Public Health Act gives a minister
with power to suspend and/or modify the application that they are
responsible for under the Government Organization Act. The
Minister of Environment and Parks issued the Ministerial Orders
under section 52.1 to suspend the reporting requirements under the
Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act, the
Water Act and the Public Lands Act. The
suspension was made on the basis that the reporting obligations are
not in the public interest during the COVID-19 public health emergency. The
suspensions are in place until August 14, 2020 unless terminated
earlier by the Minister or
