WCC LNG is beginning its environmental assessment process, but it’s a process that won’t be under the jurisdiction of the federal government.
Federal Environment Minister Leona Aglukkaq announced at the end of February that her department would be substituting the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA) assessment with the provincial environmental assessment process.
The Province will present the assessment to CEAA and Aglukkaq will decide based on that report.
The provincial government having the authority to undertake environmental assessments for LNG projects, however, is not sitting well with Green MLA Andrew Weaver and independent MLA Vicki Huntington. The two say the concurrent federal and provincial bills that would give the province the authority over LNG developments on federal port lands goes to far.
“With the introduction of this bill the province is complacent in the deregulation of environmental protection,” said Weaver.
“If the federal government is trying to limit the environmental regulations that apply on port lands, it is up to the provincial government to ensure that adequate protection remains - we want to be sure that this Bill is doing enough on that front.”