Bill C-69

This is the perfect time for the government to weigh in on the alignment of the project with the broader policy considerations that have been set (see above) and make an initial determination of national interest of the project. [...] The Regulator’s Job The purpose of the regulator is to ascertain the impacts of the proposed project, to assess the adequacy of planned mitigation measures, to develop additional conditions that would ensure the proposed project minimizes adverse impacts, and to determine the extent to which the project may impact the rights and. [...] However, the job of making decisions on the acceptability of a proposed project under those regulations is the job of the regulator, based on the policy goals, legislation and regulations enacted by the elected politicians. [...] Three of these are ones that we believe should be not just identified, but determined by the regulator: • the extent to which direct or indirect effects of the designated project are beneficial or adverse; • the implementation of the mitigation measures; • the impact that the designated project may have
on any Indigenous group and any rights of the Indigenous peoples of Canada; Recommendation: The [...] However, there needs to be strong guidance on what constitutes national interest; the role of the regulator and the Minister should be separated; and the whole system must not be allowed to be subject to political whim.