Ontario Northern Development and Mines Minister Greg Rickford is warning that a proposal to overhaul the federal Environmental Assessment Act will hamstring new natural resource and energy projects and jeopardize the creation of thousands of new jobs in Ontario.
Rickford, who oversees the Energy and Northern Development and Mines portfolios, spoke before the federal Senate Standing Committee on the Government of Canada's proposed Bill C-69 on Feb. 26.
He believes the current proposal requires “significant adjustments” before moving forward.
"The energy and mining industries play a critical role in driving economic growth and supporting thousands of jobs across Ontario," Rickford said in a government news release.
"In its current form, Bill C-69 will grind new resource development and the energy sector to a halt across Canada, killing jobs that hardworking families depend on to make ends meet."
According to the province, the mineral sector provides more than 76,000 direct and indirect jobs across and depends on regulatory certainty.
New regulatory hurdles “(kill) investments in new projects and the jobs that go along with it,” the release said.
"Our government clearly recognizes the importance of protecting the environment, but we must do so in a way that supports competitiveness, job creation, economic development and growth in the North," Rickford said.
"We continue to have serious reservations about Bill C-69 in its current form, but we remain committed to working with the federal government to improve the legislation and ensure the concerns of the energy and mining industries are adequately addressed."
Also known as the Impact Assessment Act, Bill C-69 would introduce new environmental assessment requirements for industrial developments.
Critics – including small-business owners and Indigenous groups – have said, if passed, the bill would make the approvals process for development projects longer and more expensive, essentially making Canada a less attractive place to do business.
- Northern Ontario Business
