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ARTICLE · 23 APRIL 2013

Federal Government Further Refines Federal Environmental Laws

Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
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The federal government has proposed amendments to its new environmental assessment regime.

CanadaEnvironment
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
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The federal government has proposed amendments to its new environmental assessment regime, and new regulations under the revamped Fisheries Act, indicating that the impetus to change the federal approach to projects impacting the environment is very much alive and well.

Parliament passed significant amendments to key environmental and energy regulatory statutes in 2012, in furtherance of the government's policy to streamline environmental assessments, project reviews and regulatory approvals. Under Bill C-38, the Jobs, Growth and Long-term Prosperity Act, the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 (CEAA 2012) was introduced, and significant changes were made to the Fisheries Act. These initiatives were the subject of several Blakes Bulletins in May and July 2012: Canadian Government Introduces Legislation to Streamline Environmental Approvals, and New Federal Environmental Assessment Regime Now in Force. These latest regulatory initiatives are part and

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