Ottawa proposes suite of measures to streamline project approvals, complete review process within 1 year

The federal soldier regime is proposing legislative changes to streamline the critique treat for john r. Major projects, including energy projects such as pipelines.

The changes are aimed at completing these reviews within a year.

In a discussion paper released Friday, the government is proposing a suite of changes to streamline the process for getting federal approvals.

The paper, released jointly by the Privy Council Office and Transport Canada, proposes conducting federal impact assessments and permit reviews simultaneously instead of one after another. 

It would make certain projects including pipelines reviewable under the Canada Energy Regulator, but remove the need for a separate assessment by the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada. 

It’s proposing to create one "Crown Corporation Hub" within the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada, to make sure each Indigenous group affected by a major project goes through one clear and co-ordinated process, following concerns about "consultation fatigue" among Indigenous communities. 

It also proposes narrowing the types of activities that require navigation permits, making permits for fish and fish habitat more flexible for offsetting, transferring some decision-making powers from cabinet to specific ministers, and allowing some early construction activities to start before an impact decision is made, if necessary permits are approved.

The long lags to get projects approved in Canada have been criticized by industry for years as a reason for slowed growth. The Liberals campaigned on creating a new Major Federal Project Office, which it established last year, and requiring it to render final decisions on projects within a maximum two-year timeline. 

Resource projects moving forward 'the right way,' Carney says

Last year, with the help of the Conservatives, the Liberals passed Bill C-5, which allows the government to fast-track major projects it deems to be in the national interest.

These new proposed changes are different because they would create a system for all major projects.

Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty told reporters she reviewed the proposed changes Friday morning. 

"I think that this is the time that as a country, we’re not only trying to build the economy, we’re also trying to ensure that people rightfully recognize and understand that the contributions that Indigenous people make in this space run into the billions of dollars with the GDP," she said. 

"So I’m happy to do work in that space, and I trust and understand that this government is going to respect what we set out to do."

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