In order to have their voices heard, local municipalities are banding together to oppose Bill C-69 and the impacts it would have on their municipalities.
“This is going to have long-lasting implications for big resource infrastructure projects in Canada, and in our area, it could have serious implications on our oil sands operations,” expressed City of Cold Lake Mayor Craig Copeland. “This is a pretty serious piece of legislation that people need to be aware of, and it could jeopardize the future of the Lakeland if this bill continues in its format.”
The Coalition of Canadian Municipalities for Energy Action is gaining traction around the province and across Canada to address the ways Bill C-69 will negatively affect communities.
“(Our goal) is that we get the senators and the (federal) government to listen to the voices and concerns that we have with Bill C-69 with how it’s currently drafted because it could have a significant impact on municipalities,” explained Town of Bonnyville Mayor Gene Sobolewski.
Started roughly a month ago, Bonnyville has been one of the municipalities spearheading the coalition and recruiting other communities.
Bill C-69 is known as the bill to enact the Impact Assessment Act and the Canadian Energy Regulator Act, while amending the Navigation Protection Act. One of the main criticisms is its vague wording that could be left open to perception.
“It’s very vague. It’s wide open to interpretation, and it doesn’t leave us much room better than where we’re sitting right now where you could have any of these projects, and it doesn’t just have to be energy, this is far-reaching. That’s why we’ve gone across the country with municipalities because it could affect any large project that you have on the go,” detailed MD of Bonnyville Reeve Greg Sawchuk.
The bill passed first reading in the House of Commons in February 2018, and is currently being reviewed by a senate committee.
The coalition is hoping to bring their message to the senate, the House of Commons, and political leaders to ensure their voices are heard.
At their March 12 regular council meeting, the Town of Bonnyville sent a letter of support requesting the standing committee reviewing Bill C-69 host a public hearing in Lloydminster. If the committee comes, the date could be within the first two weeks of April.
Town of Bonnyville assistant CAO Bill Rogers said, “The underlying importance is to be able to send as large of a message as possible to the senate in Ottawa that there’s an ever-growing group of municipalities that are concerned, and this is separate from industry.”
The Impact Assessment Act has a number of new items under it, including providing a process of assessing the environmental health, social, and economic effects of projects, and establishing time limits with respect to the planning phase in order to ensure the impact assessments are conducted in a timely manner.
The Canadian Energy Regulator Act, through Bill C-69, will establish a commission that is responsible for the adjudicative functions of the regulator, ensure the safety and security of persons and energy facilities, and the protection of property and the environment, and provide regulations for international power lines and certain inter-provincial power lines.
The final act addressed in the bill is the Canada Oil and Gas Operation Act, which one amendment made requires the minister to consider any adverse effects a project could have on indigenous people when making a decision.
While there are other groups addressing Bill C-69, Christian von Donat, director of Municipal Advocacy Solutions, an Ottawa-based advocacy group employed by the coalition, noted they have a unique twist.
“It’s started by small-town mayors, councillors, mid-sized towns, and other types of municipalities; regional municipalities who are concerned about the potential impacts on Bill C-69 and also the potential unintended consequences on municipalities. What’s really nice about this is they’re approaching this issue solely as a group of municipalities that are focusing on one issue, and this is really a grassroots effort,” he detailed.
The coalition is in the process of setting up a website, and are continuing to recruit other municipalities to the cause.
