New pipeline law will get projects built through trust

Old Conservative system failed, Amarjeet Sohi says.

In Canada, in 2019, the only way for good resource projects to move forward is for proponents and governments to protect the environment and respect Indigenous rights.

CEAA 2012, the regulatory system for project reviews brought in by the Conservatives, abandoned these responsibilities. They thought by cutting corners and avoiding constitutional obligations, more projects would be built. Instead, their system built up public opposition to major resource projects because it made Canadians lose trust.

Look no further than the Trans Mountain expansion project. TMX was first submitted to the National Energy Board in 2013, and in 2019, it was once again under review by the NEB.

Our approval of TMX on June 18 marked a very important day for Alberta and our entire country. But we need a system that allows us to get it right the first time — a system that ensures meaningful consultation with Indigenous peoples and one that adequately considers the impact on our environment.

With our better rules, we have delivered a system that does exactly that.

When the bill went to the Senate, we were clear we would welcome changes that would make it stronger, in addition to the amendments we accepted in the House of Commons.

The senators, including many from Alberta, proposed several constructive amendments that we accepted. Amendments that strengthen certainty and predictability, enhance consideration of the great economic benefits of projects, and help remove redundant processes in the current system.

While the demands of some Conservatives to “accept every single Senate amendment” might have sounded good on TV, it would have been irresponsible to do.

The result? Better rules that protect the environment, provide certainty for industry, restore public trust and meaningfully include Indigenous peoples in the process.

Even after accepting these amendments from the Senate — including some amendments from Conservative senators — much has been made of the fact that we rejected other amendments.

While the demands of some Conservatives to “accept every single Senate amendment” might have sounded good on TV, it would have been irresponsible to do. Here’s why:

While some amendments were conflicting, others were unworkable or even unconstitutional. They included an amendment that would allow provinces to veto projects solely within federal jurisdiction, another that would make the consideration of Indigenous rights optional, and one that would make environmental protections optional.

To put it simply, we rejected attempts to weaken the bill in a way that would have made it vulnerable to the same challenges faced under the Conservative system — amendments that would have hurt this sector in the long run.

I am from Alberta. I live in Edmonton. I have friends and family members who work in the oil and gas sector. I know how important it was for us to get this right — for them and all Canadians.

Through this process, we got it right.

We now have a new system that will allow good projects to move forward in Canada because the system has the confidence of Canadians. That allows us to support the hard-working Canadians in our resource sectors. That ensures we can leave a healthy environment for our kids, grandkids and future generations.

Thanks to all the individuals that made this possible and made their voices heard during this process.

Now, let’s get good projects built.