Canadian resource sector coalition encourages federal government to make changes to Bill C-69

A coalition of Canadian resource sector groups are voicing their concerns about a new bill, now with the Senate, that they say will add red tape, increase costs, and increase delays to natural resource project approvals, which could drive investment and jobs out of Canada.

In 2018, the federal government introduced Bill C-69 to impose new environmental assessment measures on Canada’s resource sector (mining, oil and natural gas), transportation, manufacturing, chemistry and petrochemicals, trades and labour, electricity and a host of other sectors.

The bill proposes to replace the National Energy Board with a new agency that is tasked with assessing energy projects with no hard timelines at important stages of a project’s review and introduces more red tape, which could hold up project approvals.

“This will have a debilitating impact on Canada’s economy and deterring Canada’s ability to provide product to global markets,” said Diana Arajs, spokesperson for the Save Canadian Jobs coalition. “Bill C-69 has now been passed by the House of Commons and is before the Senate. The Senate is the last chance to make the significant changes that are needed.”

Interested and affected parties are encouraged to sign up to the campaign at www.savecanadianjobs.com. The site offers a host of tips for taking action such as contacting Members of Parliament and Senators with customizable emails and other resources.