Federal government announces environmental assessment review panel
OTTAWA — The federal Liberals have announced details of a long-promised review to examine environmental assessments for projects from pipelines to new mines.
Environment Minister Catherine McKenna said Monday a four-person panel has been asked to study how the assessments are done to ensure decisions are based on sound science, avoid duplication and serve and involve the public.
The review was included in the mandate letter McKenna received from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau when she was appointed to the post last fall.
Neither industry nor environmentalists have been happy in recent years with the way environmental assessments are done. One side says they are too complex and lengthy, while the other says they don’t protect fragile ecosystems and leave out important considerations.