Senators adopt 187 amendments to C-69, setting up another fight over controversial legislation – TheChronicleHerald.ca
OTTAWA — Senators have adopted 187 amendments to the Liberal government’s environmental assessment legislation, setting the stage for another political fight and potentially forcing the House of Commons to consider a substantially altered version of the controversial Bill C-69.
The senate energy committee that studied C-69 voted Thursday to include a mixed bag of proposed amendments in their final report. It represents one last push back against a piece of legislation that has been the source of intense criticism from the Conservative opposition and the Western provinces.
The bill proposes to overhaul the environmental review process for major projects, replacing regulations introduced by the previous Conservative government in 2012 that were criticized by environmentalists and some industry groups. According to a list of adopted amendments seen by the National Post, the amendments include changes that attempt to satisfy both First Nations and private-sector interests. However, the Senate as a whole still needs to adopt a final report on C-69 before the bill goes back to the House for final approval.
