Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Good evening, everyone.
My name is Adam Legge. I'm the president of the Business Council of Alberta. I represent over 130 CEOs of Alberta's largest companies.
The Business Council of Alberta supports Bill C-39. I rarely present to parliamentary committees about how much a bill gets right, but this one does get it right. Canada's government has taken big and bold steps here, and we applaud you for doing so.
Thank you. You've listened to the feedback and input from industry. You've adopted many of the recommendations from our “From Barriers to Breakthroughs” report, issued earlier this year. Our support is representative of a broad base of industries beyond the resources sector.
Let me start with what the bill gets right: the one-year federal review and decision timeline for major projects; concurrent federal and impact assessment permitting; making the Canada Energy Regulator the single federal body responsible for reviewing pipeline, power line and energy projects, as well as shortening their timelines for reviews; amending the regulatory thresholds for different levels of review within the CER; making project conditions more practical by ensuring that decision-makers consider whether those conditions are technically, economically and practically feasible; meaningful support for labour stability through early action on expiring collective agreements and other disputes; and improving transportation and trade performance through a transportation project office, corridor-level planning and the designation of regions of national interest.
There are areas in the legislation that could be enhanced.
First, make the one-year timeline binding, with meaningful accountability. Set a clear deadline for deciding whether an application is complete, and require public reporting on any clock extensions or suspensions, as well as on the total time each review takes. There should be a limit to the number of times the clock can be stopped or the number of extensions granted, and the regulator should not be permitted to ask for additional studies due to a proponent's extension.
Second, define public interest and set clear safeguards for changing project approval conditions. As written, Bill C-39 gives the federal government discretion to add or amend conditions on that basis, but it does not define the term. In the Business Council of Alberta's view, safe and responsible projects that, among other things, create jobs, increase productivity, attract investment, diversify trade and improve affordability are all in the public interest. A clear definition would also reduce the risk that a decision changes with a new government.
Third, we strongly recommend that political decision-making move to the front of the review process, so that investors know early whether a project can proceed. It would then be up to the life-cycle regulator conducting the review to determine how it can proceed.
Finally, we believe that the bill should introduce the concept of standing to ensure that any party wishing to speak or submit evidence at a project review is a legitimate rights holder or is directly impacted by the project.
Before I wrap up, I would like to reinforce where it will be important for the government to stand firm in the face of criticism of the bill. Bill C-39 does not erode environmental standards. It changes who leads reviews and how long decisions take. Longer doesn't necessarily mean better, more thorough or higher standards. Under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act and the Impact Assessment Act and their lengthy processes, we created a false sense that longer meant more rigorous. Older processes were repetitive, duplicative and inefficient. We can protect the environment and make decisions more quickly.
Additionally, Bill C-39 does not weaken the right to strike. There are, in fact, more safeguards in place now before the minister can invoke section 107. Strikes and lockouts should be viewed as failures, not ambition. Any competitive country's ambition should be to ensure uninterrupted work activity for the benefit of workers and the economy overall. Bill C-39 works to do just that.
To conclude, Bill C-39 is an important and welcome step towards addressing many of the barriers that have stifled investment and economic growth and stood in the way of Canada building things. The Business Council of Alberta endorses this bill, asks parliamentarians to support its speedy passage with the proposed amendments I mentioned a minute ago, and cautions the committee to not adopt amendments that undo the important progress it makes.
Thank you. I look forward to any questions you may have.