VICTORIA, B.C. – Sonia Furstenau, MLA for Cowichan Valley and B.C. Greens spokesperson for the environment, responded today to the passage of the Environmental Assessment Act"
“The passage of the Environmental Assessment Act marks an essential step towards improving decision making practices in British Columbia,” said Furstenau.
“In an era of climate change it is essential that we manage our ecosystems sustainably while meeting our emissions targets. It is also essential that the legal rights of First Nations are respected and that Indigenous peoples are thoroughly and meaningfully consulted at each step of the decision-making process.
“The revitalization of the environmental assessment process in B.C. was a key priority of the B.C. Green caucus and a shared policy initiative in the Confidence and Supply Agreement signed last year. This legislation goes hand-in-hand with several other policy changes, including the upcoming Climate Plan and the strengthened Professional Reliance model. All of these changes demonstrate evidence-based policy informed by government collaboration and broad public engagement.
“Moving forward I remain focused on key aspects of this Act, including the commitments to public transparency and trust, the climate test, and peer-reviewed evidence. If we are to protect our resources for future generations we need to continue to build upon this foundation for sustainability and reconciliation.”
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