Take Action

February 8, 2012

Ask Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Environment Minister Peter Kent, and Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver not to "streamline" public environmental reviews.

Background

At the 40th General Council in 2009, the largest number of social justice resolutions focused on the global ecological crisis. Mardi Tindal was elected Moderator, naming these concerns as central to her ministry. We now recognize that social and economic justice concerns are closely linked to healing the planet and having a sustainable future.

The 1995 Canadian Environmental Assessment Act CEAA is one of Canada’s most important pieces of environmental legislation. It provides for more public participation and a more rigorous review than provincial assessment legislation. It also covers projects not subject to provincial assessment. It is fundamental to Canada's Sustainable Development Strategy.

Recently, Prime Minister Harper and Ministers Kent and Oliver have made public pronouncements that the environmental assessment process allows too much public input, takes too long, creates uncertainty for investors, and threatens economic development. Their statements, industry talking points, and a leaked government document all indicate that the government wants to reduce the scope and effectiveness of the federal environmental assessment process, or even eliminate it altogether. This means that

• small projects would no longer be screened.
• the assessment of large projects would be "delegated" to the National Energy Board and the Nuclear Safety Commission, and possibly to other federal and provincial agencies. This would create an inconsistent patchwork of reviews that would be incomprehensible to the public and ineffective in protecting the public interest.

What is at stake are the long-term sustainability of Canada’s environment, people’s livelihoods and natural resources, and the open participation of Canadians in the democratic process.

Take Action

Write, call, or e-mail Environment Minister Peter Kent to express your concerns about the federal government’s intention to weaken federal environmental assessment laws and undermine sustainable development in Canada. Send copies to Prime Minister Harper, Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver, and the opposition parties' environment critics, as well as your own Member of Parliament. The House of Commons website has a complete list of MPs' e-mail addresses and fax and phone numbers.

Mail may be sent postage-free to any Member of Parliament at the following address:

• House of Commons
  Ottawa, Ontario
  K1A 0A6
• The Honourable Peter Kent
  Minister of the Environment
  Tel: 613-992-0253
  Fax: 613-992-0887
  E-mail: The Honourable Peter Kent
• The Right Honourable Stephen Harper
  Prime Minister of Canada
  Tel: 613-992-4211
  Fax: 613-941-6900
  E-mail: The Right Honourable Stephen Harper
• The Honourable Joe Oliver
  Minister of Natural Resources
  Tel: 613-992-6361
  Fax: 613-992-9791
  E-mail: The Honourable Joe Oliver
• Megan Leslie
  NDP Environment Critic
  Tel: 613-995-7614
  Fax: 613-992-8569
  E-mail: Megan Leslie
• Kirsty Duncan
  Liberal Environment Critic
  Tel: 613-995-4702
  Fax: 613-995-8359
  E-mail: Kirsty Duncan
• Maria Mourani
  Bloc Québecois Environment Critic
  Tel: 613-992-0983
  Fax: 613-992-1932
  E-mail: Maria Mourani
• Elizabeth May
  Leader of the Green Party
  Tel: 613-996-1119
  Fax: 613-996-0850
  E-mail: Elizabeth May

For more information, and a draft letter, visit MiningWatch or contact:

• Joy Kennedy
  Program Coordinator, Poverty, Wealth and Ecological Justice
  The United Church of Canada
  Tel: 1-800-268-3781 ext. 4069
  E-mail: Joy Kennedy

Please send copies of your letters to:

• Barbara Lloyd
  Program Coordinator, Public Witness
  Partners in Mission Unit
  The United Church of Canada
  3250 Bloor Street West, Suite 300
  Toronto, ON  M8X 2Y4
  Tel: 416 231 5931 ext. 4196
  Toll-Free: 1-800-268-3781 ext. 4196
  Fax: 416-231-3103
  E-mail: Barbara Lloyd