Senate passes amendments to Bill C-69, moves to third reading

By Jolson Lim
iPOLITICS

​The Senate is pushing forward with efforts to change the Liberal government’s controversial environmental assessment bill, passing this afternoon a package of energy sector-friendly amendments to Bill C-69.

The Senate environment committee had submitted a report to the full Senate with 188 total amendments that tilt heavily in favour of the interests of Canada’s oil and gas industry, which believes the bill will hurt prospects for future energy projects if passed as originally envisioned by the Trudeau government.

The Senate passed today, on division, the report and its recommendations. A formal recorded vote was not held.

Bill C-69, which alters how large energy projects are regulated, will now be brought to third reading during the Senate’s next sitting day on Monday, where members of the Upper Chamber can propose additional amendments.

The Liberal majority in the House of Commons will then have a chance to vote on whether or not to support the Senate’s version of the bill.

Environment groups have slammed some Senators, who are unelected appointees, for proposing amendments to a government bill and throwing the likeliness of its passage into uncertainty, with four sitting weeks left.

BACKGROUNDER: Environment groups blast Senate committee for amendments to Bill C-69

The amendments from the Senate committee include reducing cabinet power to intervene in energy assessments and altering the way climate change impacts are considered in the regulatory process. Many of the proposals are word-for-word what oil and gas groups have proposed.

Before the report was passed, Conservative Senators Michael MacDonald and Dennis Patterson spoke at length in opposition of the bill, saying the piece of legislation entered the Senate in a form requiring major changes.

READ MORE: Kenney vows ‘immediate’ constitutional challenge if Bill C-69 is passed

SOURCE ARTICLE: https://ipolitics.ca/2019/05/30/senate-passes-amendments-to-bill-c-69-moves-to-third-reading/