Bill C-375

An Act to amend the Impact Assessment Act (federal-provincial agreements)

Sponsor

Gérard Deltell Conservative

Introduced as a private member’s bill. (These don’t often become law.)

Status

Defeated, as of May 8, 2024

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Summary

This is from the published bill.

This enactment amends the Impact Assessment Act to provide that the federal government and the provinces may, if certain conditions are met, enter into agreements to exempt certain projects from the application of that Act.

Elsewhere

All sorts of information on this bill is available at LEGISinfo, an excellent resource from Parliament. You can also read the full text of the bill.

Bill numbers are reused for different bills each new session. Perhaps you were looking for one of these other C-375s:

C-375 (2017) An Act to amend the Criminal Code (presentence report)

C-375 (2013) An Act to amend the Telecommunications Act (universal charger)

C-375 (2011) An Act to amend the Telecommunications Act (universal charger)

C-375 (2010) An Act to amend the Northwest Territories Act (legislative powers)

Votes

May 8, 2024 Failed 2nd reading of Bill C-375, An Act to amend the Impact Assessment Act (federal-provincial agreements)

Debate Summary

This is a computer-generated summary of the speeches below. Usually it’s accurate, but every now and then it’ll contain inaccuracies or total fabrications.

Bill C-375 aims to amend the Impact Assessment Act to streamline the environmental assessment process for projects by allowing federal and provincial governments to enter into agreements for a single assessment, reducing duplication and improving efficiency. This would involve substituting the federal assessment process with a provincial one, provided certain conditions are met, such as the provincial process determining potential effects, identifying mitigation measures, and including public consultation. The goal is to foster collaboration between federal and provincial authorities while respecting each level of government's jurisdiction and ensuring environmental protection.

Conservative

Streamline environmental assessments: The Conservatives aim to establish a single environmental assessment per project to avoid duplication between federal and provincial environmental powers, improving efficiency and optimizing scientific efforts. The bill facilitates agreements between federal and provincial partners to work together on a single study, rather than competing with each other.
Respect provincial jurisdiction: The Conservatives emphasize collaboration with provinces, respecting their expertise and unique environmental landscapes. Bill C-375 would allow for agreements between federal and provincial governments to exempt certain projects from repeated environmental assessments, respecting the expertise of provincial authorities and eliminating redundant federal oversight.
Green-light green projects: The Conservative party argues that green energy projects such as hydroelectric, solar, wind, geothermal, and nuclear energy are needed now more than ever, and the environmental assessment process needs to be streamlined to facilitate project completion. The bill strives for collaboration between the provinces and the federal government instead of confrontation.
Address Liberal overreach: The Conservatives believe the current system is bogged down by unnecessary bureaucracy, and they view Bill C-69 as an example of federal overreach into provincial jurisdiction that has led to delays and confusion. They describe their bill as a practical solution to the challenges Canada faces.

NDP

Timelines inadequate: The NDP is concerned that the timelines set by the government regarding public consultations are inadequate, especially concerning First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities. Meaningful consultation with impacted communities is an essential piece of implementing reconciliation. The Impact Assessment Act places timelines on indigenous consultations, which is not in line with the spirit of reconciliation.
Liberals favour oil and gas: The NDP believes the Liberals talk a big game about standing up to oil and gas giants, but the legislation they present is littered with loopholes and exceptions for the oil and gas sector. The NDP is the only party willing to take on the biggest polluters head-on, calling for a windfall profits tax on the excess profits of the oil and gas industry and a more rigorous cap on oil and gas emissions.
Supports impact assessments: The NDP believes the Impact Assessment Act is an important tool for making sure that our air, waters, homes and environments are clean and healthy. The current Conservative leader wants to scrap this legislation entirely, believing that oil and gas companies can build projects without environmental assessments.
Federal role important: The NDP is worried that the bill will give some provinces the opportunity to unilaterally approve projects that will have a major impact on all Canadians. They worry provinces may rubber-stamp projects, speeding up the approval process to say yes to everything, which will increase the negative impacts on our environment and ecosystems.

Bloc

Supports in principle: The Bloc supports the bill in principle because it seeks to improve coordination between provincial and federal governments and promote provincial autonomy in environmental protection matters. They would like the bill to be studied in committee to ensure that the proposed amendments provide an adequate framework for the non-application of the Impact Assessment Act and that the rights of each level of government are upheld.
Wants Quebec laws respected: The Bloc Québécois campaigns to ensure that all projects, including those under federal jurisdiction, comply with Quebec laws and municipal bylaws. They believe that Quebec's environmental assessment processes are more rigorous and better adapted to the public's expectations, the provincial processes should prevail.
Avoid absurd situations: The Bloc wants to avoid absurd situations where impact assessments are carried out under federal law when a project has already been rejected under a provincial decision following a provincial impact assessment. They cite the GNL Québec project as an example.
Defending Quebec's sovereignty: The Bloc is defending Quebec's environmental sovereignty, in accordance with the unanimously expressed will of the Quebec National Assembly. They are calling on the federal government to comply with Quebec's laws when it comes to federal activities and work in the province.

Liberal

Opposes bill C-375: The Liberals are against Bill C-375. They believe that the bill would allow provinces to avoid federal oversight on environmental issues.
Federal environmental role: The Liberals believe the federal government has a crucial role in environmental protection, particularly for projects impacting multiple provinces, and that the Impact Assessment Act (IAA) is essential for this role.
Cooperative federalism: The Liberals state that Bill C-375 undermines cooperative federalism by potentially exempting projects from federal assessment without proper safeguards, hindering the federal government's ability to manage its responsibilities and potentially affecting indigenous rights.
Supports IAA improvements: The Liberals say they are committed to improving the IAA through amendments proposed in the budget implementation bill, aiming for a harmonized approach to assessments with provinces and indigenous jurisdictions while maintaining federal obligations and indigenous consultations.

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Impact Assessment ActPrivate Members' Business

May 3rd, 2024 / 2:15 p.m.

The Deputy Speaker Chris d'Entremont

The question is on the motion.

If a member participating in person wishes that the motion be carried or carried on division, or if a member of a recognized party participating in person wishes to request a recorded division, I would invite them to rise and indicate it to the Chair.

Impact Assessment ActPrivate Members' Business

May 3rd, 2024 / 2:15 p.m.

Liberal

Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB

Mr. Speaker, I request a recorded vote.

Impact Assessment ActPrivate Members' Business

May 3rd, 2024 / 2:15 p.m.

The Deputy Speaker Chris d'Entremont

Pursuant to Standing Order 93, the recorded division stands deferred until Wednesday, May 8, at the expiry of the time provided for Oral Questions.

It being 2:16 p.m., the House stands adjourned until Monday, May 6, at 11 a.m., pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).

(The House adjourned at 2:16 p.m.)

The House resumed from May 3 consideration of the motion that Bill C-375, An Act to amend the Impact Assessment Act (federal-provincial agreements), be read the second time and referred to a committee.

Impact Assessment ActPrivate Members' Business

May 8th, 2024 / 3:50 p.m.

The Deputy Speaker Chris d'Entremont

The House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the motion at second reading stage of Bill C-375 under Private Members' Business.

(The House divided on the motion, which was negatived on the following division:)

Vote #756

Impact Assessment ActPrivate Members' Business

May 8th, 2024 / 4 p.m.

The Deputy Speaker Chris d'Entremont

I declare the motion defeated.