Reuters: Regulatory News: Canada proposes cutting reviews of major projects - paper

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Canada proposes cutting reviews of major projects - paper Apr 17th 2012, 11:57 OTTAWA, April 17 | Tue Apr 17, 2012 7:57am EDT OTTAWA, April 17 (Reuters) - Canada will propose drastically cutting the number of industrial projects that must undergo federal environmental reviews, the Globe and Mail newspaper reported on Tuesday. The right-of-center Conservative government last month promised to overhaul the current complex regulatory system where projects such as pipelines and mines have to undergo lengthy appraisals. Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver - who complains investors are put off by the prospect of lengthy delays - is due to unveil his proposals later on Tuesday. The Globe said the federal government would concentrate on carrying out environmental assessments of "major economic projects", leaving Canada's 10 provinces to decide how to handle smaller projects. Oliver said last month that Ottawa would impose binding timelines on the approval process. Currently, some projects can take up to seven years to receive the green light. "Ottawa also plans to centralize all environmental oversight in three agencies, rather than the 40 departments and agencies that can now have a say before any major project is approved," the Globe said. Environmentalists - who complain about the Conservatives' tight ties to the energy industry - say trimming the regulatory process could lead to disaster. Companies which could benefit from the new rules include Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP and Enbridge Inc , which both want to build pipelines from the oil-rich western province of Alberta to the Pacific coast. Oliver's chief spokeswoman did not respond to a request for comment. Link this Share this Digg this Email Reprints

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