Bill C-69 gets chilly reception from Sask. mining industry

A proposed bill aimed to change the way major resource projects are assessed and approved in Canada received a cool response from industry officials in Saskatoon on Thursday.

Representatives from Cameco, Mosaic and Nutrien stated their opposition to Bill C-69 before the Senate energy committee studying the legislation and collecting feedback during a nine-day cross-Canada tour.

“The Impact Assessment Act will chill investment — a chill that can have a compounding effect through our economy,” said Michael Webb, Nutrien’s vice-president and chief administrative officer.

The bill which has been passed by the House of Commons and has now gone to the Senate for review would repeal the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act and retire the National Energy Board. The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada and the Canadian Energy Regulator would be the authorities responsible for assessing the environmental, health, social and economic impacts of projects.

Saskatchewan Mining Association president Pam Schwann told the hearing the association supports the intent of the bill, but has several concerns about the bill in its current form.

One issue for the association is that uranium projects would automatically trigger a panel review process, something she said could drastically extend the timeline for a project to be approved.

Schwann proposed an amendment to the act that uranium projects be given the same treatment as other mines and mills subject to a review.

“There’s no science-based evidence to subject these mines to a more lengthy, complex and costly process,” Schwann said, adding that the province has a proven track record in the environmental assessment process when it comes to uranium mines and mills.

Alice Wong, the chief financial officer for Cameco, said without amendments, the bill creates unpredictability in the uranium sector.

“Really what that does is it adds costs, uncertainty, adds administrative burden, again without adding any environmental benefit,” Wong said.

Schwann said the mining industry is also seeking more clarity on what types of projects will fall under the bill’s jurisdiction. A project list is still being developed.

“Would forestry operations be covered?” Schwann asked. “Would pipelines be covered? Would potash mines be covered? We don’t know.”

Currently the potash industry is regulated by the province, which Schwann says the association wants to see continue.

Senate energy committee chair Rosa Galvez agrees there needs to be more clarity in the rules. She believes the bill will have amendments in several areas, including more certainty for industry, investors and the public, and reconciliation with Indigenous groups.

The committee is scheduled to give its report to the Senate by May 9.