FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Bill 15 is an example of government moving too fast. We do not need to sacrifice public input, the environment, and First Nations consultation to react to US tariff threats. Instead, we can uphold our values of reconciliation and environmental protection while moving to streamline projects that are important to British Columbians.

As written, Bill 15 provides very broad powers to the provincial government to expedite large projects – regardless of who is in power. But the bill does not define what constitutes a “provincially significant’ project, nor does it include any language stating it won’t be used to fast-track LNG and pipeline projects. Recent statements by the Premier also hint at an intention to use the bill to expedite mining projects.

Sierra Club BC is calling on the B.C. government to amend Bill 15 in the next legislative session, so that Indigenous consultation, due process, and adequate environmental assessments are enshrined in law and not vulnerable to weakening in the future.

The public are counting on government claims that it will not be possible under Bill 15 to circumvent UNDRIP requirements or avoid required environmental assessments. However, the bill gives broad powers to the infrastructure minister to speed up the permitting process, including bypassing the usual environmental assessments in favour of “expedited” assessments, the scope of which would be determined by the minister.

We are urging Premier Eby and Infrastructure Minister Bowinn Ma to live up to their word by conducting a transparent public process to amend Bill 15 and include

• A robust consultation with First Nations.
• A clear definition of a “provincially significant” project along with clear criteria for meeting this threshold.
• A stated prohibition on using the new law to expedite LNG, pipeline and mining projects.
• Explicit guarantees that protect Indigenous sovereignty and environmental standards within the approval and permitting processes.

The majority of British Columbians voted NDP or Green in the last provincial election, giving the elected government a mandate to follow through on commitments to preserve old growth, protect biodiversity, and reduce climate pollution in B.C. The continued emphasis on weakening environmental safeguards and due process for resource extraction projects will not help Canadians – it will only make us more vulnerable to deadly and costly climate impacts like drought, wildfires and more.

-30-