Environmental groups want the federal government to investigate construction on an Alberta coal mine expansion for potentially violating federal law that protects endangered fish and their habitat.
For Angel Ransom, it’s stacks of paperwork, short timelines, overstretched staff and a gauntlet of project proposals that lead to consultation fatigue.
The Northern Road Link Project, a highway leading to the region in northern Ontario, is part of a larger push to develop mining projects in the area and capitalize on critical minerals like copper, chromite and nickel that play a vital role in the energy transition.
The proposal to the agency from the Webequie and Marten Falls First Nations was accepted and public comments will be accepted until March 23. The proposed highway will begin 400 kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay and will cross the Attawapiskat River.
"I am of the opinion that the project, as currently proposed, would likely cause unacceptable environmental effects within federal jurisdiction," Environment and Climate Change Minister Steven Guilbeault wrote.
The federal government has extended its deadline for public feedback on a proposed Metro Vancouver shipping terminal after outcry from scientists, MPs and the City of Delta.
The head of the Mining Association of Canada says the hotly contested federal environmental assessment bill is welcome in the industry it will affect the most.
"The Liberals are failing Canadians by destroying investment confidence in the energy sector in Canada… The reality is this: that under the Liberals more energy investment has been lost than any other time frame in 70 years, $100 billion of energy projects cancelled."