Big Changes In Federal Environmental And Fisheries Regulation

The current Liberal Federal Government is moving full-swing in its promised amendments to the legislation governing the federal environmental assessment process and the environmental protection provisions related to the Federal Fisheries power.  On February 6, 2018, the Federal Government introduced Bill-68, An Act to Amend the Fisheries Act and Other Acts in Consequence. Two days later Bill C-69, An Act to Enact the Impact Assessment Act and the Canadian Energy Regulator Act, to Amend the Navigation Protection Act and to Make Consequential Amendments to Other Acts was introduced.  Both Acts entail significant changes to current federal legislation, with perhaps the most significant changes relating to the current federal environmental assessment regime. The amendments are also intended to go some way in fulfilling the Government of Canada's stated objective of reconciliation with its Indigenous peoples.