Madam Chair, previously, proponents of minor works were issued letters of advice instructing them to proceed without an authorization, often leaving residual harm unaddressed and resulting in significant cumulative impacts. This clause implements a letter of advice, which will allow the minister to track smaller projects and identify cumulative effects. Degradation and loss of habitat is one of the greatest threats to freshwater and anadromous fish in Canada. Tracking, assessing, and addressing cumulative effects will be critical to turning the tide on habitat loss and realizing measurable improvements in the quality and amount of fish habitat in the future. While Bill C-68 includes a number of tools for managing impacts on fish habitat, it falls short in terms of advancing a comprehensive approach to cumulative effects.
(Amendment negatived [See Minutes of Proceedings])