A Message from Theresa McClenaghan, Executive Director, Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA)
Posted June 4th, 2026 on Niagara At Large
We know you’re busy, but suspect you’ll want to weigh in on a proposal that could significantly weaken the laws that protect our water, human health, species at risk, and future generations.
Last month, the federal government released a discussion paper proposing significant changes to the way major projects are assessed and approved in Canada.
Some of the most problematic proposals would:
- * Limit the assessment of major projects to one year, regardless of their risk or complexity;
- * Allow projects to proceed without protections for species at risk;
- * Concentrate decision-making in the hands of one minister;
- * Allow construction activities to begin before final approvals have been made.
And that’s only part of what’s being proposed.
What’s worse, the federal government’s justification for these changes doesn’t pass the smell test. It claims these changes are needed because major project approvals are too slow and inflexible, but provides no evidence to back up that claim.
Please take a few minutes to tell the federal government to abandon its proposals.
The consultation closes on June 7th.
Take Action Now. Click on – (https://cela.ca/action-alert-federal-proposal-would-cut-environmental-protection/)
Instead of cutting environmental protections, the federal government should consider how it can strengthen environmental safeguards so that major projects are built in ways that leave Canada’s people and ecosystems healthier, stronger and more resilient in the future.
On our site (https://cela.ca/action-alert-federal-proposal-would-cut-environmental-protection/) you will find a more detailed summary of our concerns as well as our legal team’s 20-page assessment of the discussion paper. These can support your own submission.
The government needs to hear from as many Canadians as possible.
Thank you for taking action.
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Sincerely, Theresa McClenaghan, Executive Director, CELA
Forward to a Friend (https://us5.forward-to-friend.com/forward?u=061b2906efcd710becc433e36&id=9945d055e5&e=ad2bf83831)
For more on the Canadian Environmental Law Asociation, click on its home page at – https://cela.ca/
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