Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Our proposed amendment is as follows:
prior to making a call for bids in relation to those Crown reserve areas, the Regulator has conducted a regional assessment or strategic environmental assessment of the impacts of offshore renewable energy projects in those Crown reserve areas, or the Regulator has determined that a previous regional assessment or strategic environmental assessment of the impacts of offshore renewable energy projects has been conducted in respect of those Crown reserve areas; and
This amendment was prompted by the testimony of certain groups that appeared before the committee, in particular East Coast Environmental Law, the Ecology Action Centre, Energy NL and the Nova Scotia Fisheries Alliance for Energy Engagement.
They all raised concerns about calls for bids in areas where no previous regional assessment or strategic environmental assessment had been conducted. This would be a good way to improve the bill and to reconcile it with local stakeholders.