Canadian Govt Bill to Shut Down Environmntl Safeguards
candleofthought26
Posts: 81
To all Canadian 10C's:
Parliament is voting next week on a new Bill (Bill C-38) proposed as a "budget bill", which attempts to introduce significant changes to Environmental Law without the scrutiny of parliamentary committees or public input. The proposed changes represent a back-door way of implementing major changes to the law in hopes the public does not notice. I believe this bill infringes on our rights and freedoms as Canadians, interferes with the democratic process, and jeopardizes the health and safety of Canadians across the country.
First, the changes proposed effectively limit public participation in regulatory hearings. In this nation founded on principles of free and democratic society, citizens have the right to speak up and be heard when decisions that affect them are being made. Fine-print limitations allowing only those “directly affected” is not a justifiable way to carry out policy that affects all citizens on the larger scale. One does not need to live directly along the proposed pipeline path to be affected by a project that has as big a scope as Enbridge’s Northern Gateway pipeline.
Second, changes to environmental law in this Bill strip the legislative process of any claim to a responsible and accountable government practice relating to environmental practice. Deferring reviews to the provinces will land harmful projects in a patchwork of provincial environmental laws, many of which are weaker than federal laws. Some provinces do not even have comprehensive schemes capable of assessing large-scale projects and in many cases, federal review is the only way to regulate projects. Moreover, this proposed legislative process sends a poor message to the corporations operating on Canadian soil and internationally, that accountability is not a top Canadian priority. Is this the way that Canada wishes to be seen on the International stage?
Finally, the changes in this Bill strip independent bodies of their decision-making power. The changes proposed revoke decision-making power from the National Energy Board; an agency enacted to ensure that decisions are in the public’s best interest, basing decisions on hard facts and science — not the politics of the day. Unfortunately, the case is simply that cabinet members do not possess the expertise to gather, synthesize and analyse the vast amount of scientific data that must be considered when examining the merits and weaknesses of major energy projects. Once again, these proposal make evident that democracy and independent decision-making processes are under threat in Canada.
This is simply unacceptable in a country based on democratic principles and a governmental body that purports to hold the best interests of its people in priority. A government that supports and promotes a democratic process would not create red-tape to public participation. I see this as a significant and alarming threat to our rights and freedoms as Canadians.
If government wishes to change environmental law they are required to put forth an environmental bill, and support consultation hearings across the country. Major changes to legislature have no place in a budget proposal. Quietly attempting to stick changes in the budget is unacceptable and appalling. What we as the public see here is the government body charged with upholding democratic process using a backdoor method to avoid public scrutiny, thereby avoiding specific study of the changes at individual parliamentary committees. This is not the type of government Canadians deserve nor the type of government we have elected. This action makes evident one point: that the current government wishes to revoke the rights and freedoms afforded to us by the democratic society in which we live.
If this resonates with you, please speak out and ensure that the democratic process that Canada was built on continues to guide national policy by contacting your local Canadian representatives and ask them to remove the changes to Environmental Law from Bill C-38. Changes to Canadian Law have no place in a budget proposal.
Or take part in BlackOutSpeakOut - organizations are darkening their websites on June 4th in protest against efforts to silence our voices: http://blackoutspeakout.ca/index.php
For more information see: http://www.ecojustice.ca/blog/federal-g ... -canadians
Parliament is voting next week on a new Bill (Bill C-38) proposed as a "budget bill", which attempts to introduce significant changes to Environmental Law without the scrutiny of parliamentary committees or public input. The proposed changes represent a back-door way of implementing major changes to the law in hopes the public does not notice. I believe this bill infringes on our rights and freedoms as Canadians, interferes with the democratic process, and jeopardizes the health and safety of Canadians across the country.
First, the changes proposed effectively limit public participation in regulatory hearings. In this nation founded on principles of free and democratic society, citizens have the right to speak up and be heard when decisions that affect them are being made. Fine-print limitations allowing only those “directly affected” is not a justifiable way to carry out policy that affects all citizens on the larger scale. One does not need to live directly along the proposed pipeline path to be affected by a project that has as big a scope as Enbridge’s Northern Gateway pipeline.
Second, changes to environmental law in this Bill strip the legislative process of any claim to a responsible and accountable government practice relating to environmental practice. Deferring reviews to the provinces will land harmful projects in a patchwork of provincial environmental laws, many of which are weaker than federal laws. Some provinces do not even have comprehensive schemes capable of assessing large-scale projects and in many cases, federal review is the only way to regulate projects. Moreover, this proposed legislative process sends a poor message to the corporations operating on Canadian soil and internationally, that accountability is not a top Canadian priority. Is this the way that Canada wishes to be seen on the International stage?
Finally, the changes in this Bill strip independent bodies of their decision-making power. The changes proposed revoke decision-making power from the National Energy Board; an agency enacted to ensure that decisions are in the public’s best interest, basing decisions on hard facts and science — not the politics of the day. Unfortunately, the case is simply that cabinet members do not possess the expertise to gather, synthesize and analyse the vast amount of scientific data that must be considered when examining the merits and weaknesses of major energy projects. Once again, these proposal make evident that democracy and independent decision-making processes are under threat in Canada.
This is simply unacceptable in a country based on democratic principles and a governmental body that purports to hold the best interests of its people in priority. A government that supports and promotes a democratic process would not create red-tape to public participation. I see this as a significant and alarming threat to our rights and freedoms as Canadians.
If government wishes to change environmental law they are required to put forth an environmental bill, and support consultation hearings across the country. Major changes to legislature have no place in a budget proposal. Quietly attempting to stick changes in the budget is unacceptable and appalling. What we as the public see here is the government body charged with upholding democratic process using a backdoor method to avoid public scrutiny, thereby avoiding specific study of the changes at individual parliamentary committees. This is not the type of government Canadians deserve nor the type of government we have elected. This action makes evident one point: that the current government wishes to revoke the rights and freedoms afforded to us by the democratic society in which we live.
If this resonates with you, please speak out and ensure that the democratic process that Canada was built on continues to guide national policy by contacting your local Canadian representatives and ask them to remove the changes to Environmental Law from Bill C-38. Changes to Canadian Law have no place in a budget proposal.
Or take part in BlackOutSpeakOut - organizations are darkening their websites on June 4th in protest against efforts to silence our voices: http://blackoutspeakout.ca/index.php
For more information see: http://www.ecojustice.ca/blog/federal-g ... -canadians
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Comments
-Eddie Vedder, "Smile"
harper and his conservatives have a disdain for democracy ... they cheated in the past two elections ... the problem is that the people who vote conservative never hold these guys accountable ...
Parliament is voting on this next week: attention needs to be drawn to the only thing we CAN do in this situation: speak out. Like our friend above said, write letters, make phone calls, let government know that THIS time time they've gone to far -- we are going to hold them accountable and they are not going to revoke democracy on us; is this not "the true north - strong and FREE?".
If enough of us speak out, we have to be heard. And as shitty as this political realm is here in Canada right now, speaking out in numbers is the only thing they cannot ignore.