April 10, 2019
Professors appear before Senate Committee
The Committee is meeting across Canada on Bill C-69, Impact Assessment Act and Canadian Energy Regulator Act.
Professor Kwasniak’s comments related to the Impact Assessment Act portion of Bill C-69. She briefly discussed the role of Senate in reviewing legislation in particular relating to proposed legislation’s underlying policy. She spoke in support of the IAA though she recommended amendments to clarify certain aspects of it, and to enhance the role of municipalities in impact assessment.
Professor Olszynski's submissions were primarily intended to provide the Senate Committee with the context necessary to under Bill C-69's provisions and implications, including a brief overview of the history of federal environmental assessment, the number of projects undergoing federal assessment (past and present), provincial regulatory activity, and litigation rates with respect to the current regime.