Latest news with #fasttrack
CBC
2 days ago
- Business
- CBC
'Like The Hunger Games': Premiers to pitch projects for federal fast-tracking
Premiers will meet with Prime Minister Mark Carney next week to decide on some specific nation-building projects that will be fast-tracked for approval. New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt says it 'will be like The Hunger Games.' She gives Power & Politics a look into what her province is pitching.
CBC
2 days ago
- Business
- CBC
Poilievre says he'll support Carney's expected project-approval bill if it ‘gets things done quickly'
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said his party would have to look at a proposed Liberal bill that aims to fast-track major projects and remove trade barriers before backing it.
CTV News
2 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Growing chorus of opposition to B.C. NDP legislation grows louder – even after bills are passed
B.C.'s NDP government flexed its one-seat majority to pass controversial legislation to fast-track major projects Wednesday night.
CBC
3 days ago
- Business
- CBC
B.C. NDP government narrowly passes controversial bills to fast-track projects
Social Sharing The B.C. NDP government narrowly passed two controversial laws that will fast-track infrastructure and clean energy projects. Bill 15, the Infrastructure Projects Act, is aimed at fast-tracking public sector projects like schools and hospitals, as well as private projects, such as critical mineral mines, that are deemed provincially significant. Bill 14, the Renewable Energy Projects (Streamlined Permitting) Act, will speed up clean energy projects across the province. The B.C. Conservatives, B.C. Greens and three Independent MLAs voted against the bills, while Speaker Raj Chouhan cast the tiebreaking vote in favour, allowing them to pass third reading on Wednesday. The bills are expected to receive royal assent Thursday. WATCH | Bill 15 faces heavy opposition: Eby's mining announcement overshadowed by backlash to controversial Bill 15 2 days ago Duration 2:07 Both bills have faced intense backlash from several First Nations leaders, environmental groups and the Union of B.C. Municipalities, who say they give the government the power to push through resource projects with limited consultation. The B.C. Chamber of Commerce added its voice to the opposition over Bill 15 on Wednesday. In a letter to the premier, the chamber said because of the government's "troubling" failure to consult with Indigenous groups beforehand, there's a risk that any private project deemed "provincially significant" could face legal challenges. WATCH | Bills meant to speed up energy projects: B.C. moves to speed up energy projects amid growing demand and environmental concerns 23 days ago Duration 2:09 B.C.'s premier and energy minister are putting out a new call for electricity. The move comes as BC Hydro tries to boost its capacity to help build and power massive new projects. But as Katie DeRosa reports, critics are worried the energy projects could be fast-tracked despite potential concerns from First Nations and environmental groups. "From the business community's perspective, the decision has unintentionally heightened [instead of] diminished uncertainty," the letter said. The chamber also shared concerns that the bill gives the government "substantial powers" to pick and choose which projects are deemed provincially significant, which opens those decisions up to "politicization." It also criticized the province's decision to exclude pipelines and liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities from the projects that could be deemed provincially significant, calling it "arbitrary and short-sighted." Premier David Eby stood behind Bill 15, saying it's urgently needed to build the public infrastructure communities are demanding. Eby said the legislation represents a "fork in the road between court and litigation and fighting, and between co-operation and shared prosperity." Infrastructure Minister Bowinn Ma said the government needs to do more to clarify what projects can be deemed provincially significant. "There is work that we need to do in order to establish the minimum eligibility criteria for what could be deemed a provincially significant project," Ma told reporters Wednesday afternoon before the vote. As for why the NDP couldn't pause the bill and bring it back in the fall after that work was done, Ma said the "urgency will be clear" to parents anxiously waiting for a school to be built in their neighbourhood or a teacher holding a class in a portable. When asked how the B.C. NDP would rebuild trust with First Nations who say they feel betrayed by the bills, Ma quoted Grand Chief Stewart Phillip of the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs, whose wife Joan Phillip is an NDP MLA. "He famously said 'reconciliation is not for wimps,' and talked about how the road to reconciliation is not a straight path and there will be bumps along the way," Ma said. "When there are rifts, we've got to work to come back together." One First Nation, the Nisga'a Lisims Government (NLG) in northwest B.C., came out in support of the bills. "Given the economic uncertainty introduced by the new trade policies of the United States, NLG fully understands the need for British Columbia to move swiftly on these matters and is well placed to provide meaningful input in expedited circumstances," the nation wrote in a letter distributed by the premier's office. The First Nation says it has been "advocating for a more efficient and effective regulatory regime for some time now" and has "valuable input based on our ongoing experiences through various regulatory processes" for three projects in its territory — the Ksi Lisims LNG project, the Prince Rupert Gas Transmission pipeline and the Nass Valley Regional Transmission Line.
CTV News
4 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Despite growing opposition, NDP plans to go ahead with Bill 15
Time is running out for the NDP to get support for a controversial bill to fast-track approval of major projects. Tension was escalating during question period on Tuesday, just two days ahead of legislature ending for summer. 'Just call the election already instead of having all these games around bill 14 and 15,' taunted B.C. Conservative MLA, Peter Milobar. The opposition goaded the NDP government over its controversial bills, designed to fast track energy and infrastructure projects. 'Honourable member, in your dreams,' responded NDP House Leader Mike Farnworth, reacting to Milobar's suggestion the opposition would win any such election. Bills 14 and 15 have come under heavy scrutiny, particularly from First Nations leaders who are angry they weren't consulted, as required under the law. 'Complete up-ending of the relationship between the NDP and First Nations in British Columbia,' said Grand Chief Stewart Philipps, the President of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs, when describing the impact of the bills on Tuesday. The NDP tried a last minute amendment to Bill 15 on Monday night that would have required the government to consult with First Nations on regulations for criteria to designate a project to be fast tracked under the legislation. 'Concerns that our commitment and assurances alone was not enough. We were willing to bind ourselves in statute to our commitment - it was not successful,' said Infrastructure Bowinn Ma on Tuesday, recounting the motivation for the amendment. The BC Conservatives and Greens rejected the amendment at the committee stage Monday night – noting First Nations weren't consulted on the amendment either. 'Then an amendment comes forward, they hadn't been consulted on the amendment, so two wrongs don't make a right,' said Green MLA Rob Botterell. First Nations leaders with the First National Leadership Council sent a letter Monday to premier Eby, reiterating calls to withdraw the bills. The government declined to do so, and says it will pass the bills Wednesday. 'Grand Chief Stewart Phillip famously said that reconciliation is not for wimps, and the process towards reconciliation is not a straight line,' Ma told reporters. In the face of the backlash, the opposition parties are also calling for the bills to be put off and reworked in the fall. 'Everybody's opposed to Bill 15, why does this premier keep ramming this thing through,' questioned Conservative Leader John Rustad. 'He should just own up to it, he made a mistake, and pull this bill and go back to the drawing board.' Stewart says, despite his disappointment with the NDP over its handling of the bills, he still prefers them over the alternative, the BC Conservatives. 'Keenly aware who's sitting on the edge of their chairs on eh opposition side,' said Stewart. The Grand Chief said a meeting had been scheduled with Premier Eby and First Nations leaders for Tuesday afternoon but the government side had cancelled the meeting.
