First Nations force B.C. to cancel exemptions from environmental assessments

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      In a surprising reversal, the B.C. Liberal government has revoked regulatory changes that would have exempted ski resorts and sweet natural gas plants from the environmental assessment process.

      Environment Minister Mary Polak apologized to First Nations for not consulting with them prior to approving the exemptions.

      "Our government is committed to a strong, respectful and productive relationship with First Nations," Polak said in a statement on April 16. "That is why we will rescind the amendment that would have removed the requirement for an environmental assessment for sweet gas facilities and destination resorts, until we have undertaken discussions with First Nations."

      On April 14, the government announced it had amended the Reviewable Projects Regulation, deleting the requirement for new and expanded ski and all-season resorts to obtain an environmental assessment certificate, effective January 1, 2015. Another amendment removed the “volume-based trigger” for natural gas processing plants, meaning only facilities with sulphur emissions of two tonnes or more per day would have been subject to an assessment, as of April 28, 2014.

      The First Nations Leadership Council had said it was "shocked" by the regulatory changes. 

      "In a stunningly stupid move, the Province has effectively declared war on all BC First Nations and jeopardized all LNG discussions throughout the entire Province of BC," Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, president of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, said in an April 16 news release.

      In the same release, B.C. Assembly of First Nations regional chief Jody Wilson-Raybould said: “Opportunities for relationship building are lost when the BC Government on the one hand participates in open dialogue with First Nations on topics like LNG, but on the other makes no effort to consult with First Nations on major environmental deregulation in the same day.”

      Comments

      3 Comments

      Denise

      Apr 17, 2014 at 9:20am

      Does this now mean that we can cancel the so called "Jumbo" ski resort, "On April 14, the government announced it had amended the Reviewable Projects Regulation, deleting the requirement for new and expanded ski and all-season resorts to obtain an environmental assessment certificate" That is a plight on democracy, this same crazy government made a wilderness area a municipality with Appointed mayor and councilors WITHOUT a POPULATION of humans, sure there are bears, and other animals but no people and this municipality get $250,000 a year for road bulding? etc. Banada republc.

      dci

      Apr 17, 2014 at 9:51am

      "Our government is committed to a strong, respectful and productive relationship with First Nations," Polak said in a statement on April 16. "That is why we will rescind the amendment that would have removed the requirement for an environmental assessment for sweet gas facilities and destination resorts, until we have undertaken discussions with First Nations."

      Uhhhh, how about consulting us other citizens too?

      BC Liberals SUCK

      Apr 18, 2014 at 11:41am

      Christy Clark demonstrates time and again that she is Stephen Harper in a skirt.