Environment committee  Well, at the end of the day, I think many of the utilities are invested here in Canada; they're not going to be able to pick up and leave. We need to provide the service, but it's going to create additional costs that will not bring additional value. Some projects may get selec

Environment committee  The legislation in Canada, in the provinces, has matured over the last 10 to 20 years. CEA first initiated filling a broad mandate, but the legislation provincially now has the approach where there's a specific list, normally with a higher threshold for the triggers, because that

Environment committee  Yes, we would prefer the provincial style, with a list for larger projects or projects with larger potential for impact. That assessment would be directed there to be most efficient.

Environment committee  No.

Environment committee  With the two-stage proposal that you're suggesting, one of the tools that already exists, for example, is the strategic environmental assessment. In Nova Scotia most recently, we underwent a strategic assessment for the tidal and offshore renewable industry—in advance of even bri

Environment committee  We're always interested in having the most credible of processes. I think the comments we raised in our brief and in our remarks by Ms. Schwartz were really directed at saying we want to see the right level of review for the right level of project. So if broader planning issues

Environment committee  It's always of value, and industry, independent of the process and in advance of any project or initiative we bring forward, often engages in significant public consultation. On many of the projects I've been associated with over the past 30 years, if we have an interest in a pro

Environment committee  As utilities, we often are involved in quite far in front processes. Many of us are regulated within our province, as we are. We regularly undergo integrated resource planning exercises that are highly public and participatory in nature and are administered by the utility and rev

Environment committee  In many cases, as a project proceeds, there is some optionality that is part of what is brought forward, and often the process can inform. It provides an opportunity also—as was discussed with the last member—for public participation in various forms, which is helpful. Companies,

Environment committee  As a result of that, the process adds a lot of value. We're simply trying to find a way to provide advice to your committee which will allow for that to take place in a more efficient manner.

Environment committee  I guess I'm going to answer that. There are many examples. Almost every project we engage in ends up with a number of triggers from the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, so Fisheries and Oceans Canada, navigable waters, migratory birds, and therefore Environment Canada, and

Environment committee  It's always difficult to exactly quantify the costs of delay, but every time there is a delay it certainly creates an opportunity to introduce additional studies, which sometimes add very little value considering the costs just for people to participate—even on the industry and g

Environment committee  It's built in to some of the integrated resource planning exercises that we are a part of.

Environment committee  Therefore, we support that, because it leads to better projects that have more of a social licence and acceptance to bring them forward.

Environment committee  And we embrace that.