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ARTICLE · 18 JULY 2017

Federal Government Issues Discussion Paper About Modernizing Energy Project Review Processes

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On June 29, 2017, the Federal Government released a Discussion Paper on Environmental and Regulatory Reviews.

CanadaEnergy and Natural Resources
David Stevens
David Stevens
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On June 29, 2017, the Federal Government released a Discussion Paper on Environmental and Regulatory Reviews. As set out in its "Purpose" statement, the Discussion Paper "outlines the changes that the Government is considering for Canada's environmental assessment and regulatory processes that will: regain public trust; protect the environment; advance reconciliation with Indigenous peoples; and ensure good projects go ahead and resources get to market."

The publication of the Discussion Paper is the next step in the Government's plan to update and legitimize the environmental and regulatory processes for energy project reviews. As we previously explained, part of this process is aimed at "modernizing" the National Energy Board (NEB) "to ensure its composition reflects regional views and has sufficient expertise in such fields as environmental science, community development, and Indigenous traditional knowledge."

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