OTTAWA – The Conservative government is trying to use economic hardship as an excuse to loosen environmental regulation, according to documents obtained by New Democrat Environment Critic Linda Duncan (Edmonton-Strathcona). The documents confirm recent suggestions by Conservative Ministers Raitt and Baird that Conservatives view rules that protect the environment as mere “red tape”.

“The assertion that federal environmental regulations are just a nuisance standing in the way of building infrastructure and creating jobs is completely baseless,” says Duncan. “I challenge Environment Minister Prentice to step up and defend his ministry and his legislated mandate, to protect the environment.”

The leaked documents show the Conservatives are planning to rush a watered-down version of the Environmental Assessment Act through parliament as early as March or April. The new rules would exempt from environmental assessment: any Building Canada infrastructure projects under $10 million regardless of the environmental or health risk; any project on federal lands or using federal dollars; and, any project that a provincial government asks be exempted. It has also been revealed the new law would limit federal oversight of environmental impact assessment to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA), except for reviews mandated to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission and the National Energy Board (NEB).

“The Conservatives are looking for a way to avoid a required public review by 2010 of the current law. A review mandated by law to be led by a Committee of Parliament or the Senate,” says Duncan. “This use of the economic crisis as an excuse to attack sustainable practices and avoid public scrutiny is frankly unacceptable and provides yet another reason why Canadians have lost confidence in the Harper government.”