Tell the Federal Government to Respect Environmental Protections
May 28, 2026
- •
- •
- •
On May 8, the federal government released a discussion paper proposing major changes to environmental assessment and regulatory processes in Canada.
The document, Getting Major Projects Built in Canada – Discussion Paper on Proposed Legislative, Regulatory, and Policy Reforms, outlines proposed legislative and policy changes intended to speed up approvals for so-called “Major Projects.”
While the federal government states that environmental protections and Indigenous rights will continue to be respected, many of the proposed changes raise serious concerns.
Some of our main concerns include:
- Strict one-year timelines for federal impact assessments, regardless of project complexity.
- Removing or weakening federal impact assessments for certain projects.
- Creating “Federal Economic Zones” where projects could move forward with reduced oversight.
- Allowing exemptions to Species at Risk Act protections.
- Allowing some construction activities to begin before impact assessment decisions are completed.
- Increasing reliance on habitat offsetting and compensation instead of avoiding impacts in the first place.
Environmental review processes exist for a reason. They help ensure projects do not cause irreversible harm to ecosystems, species, water, and communities, while also supporting transparency.
Canada cannot claim to protect biodiversity and restore ecosystems while simultaneously weakening the very laws designed to protect them.
The federal government is accepting public feedback until July 22.
Help us tell the federal government that environmental protections, strong impact assessments, and meaningful consultation processes must be respected.
Send your feedback before July 22 to engagement@pco-bcp.gc.ca
You can also ask your Member of Parliament (MP) to vote against legislation that threatens species at risk. Find your MP’s contact information here.