Will Senate ‘go green’ and support stronger environmental laws? – iPolitics
Senators are actively considering
amendments that remove important new protections for fish and fish
habitat from Bill C-68, and create obstacles to more marine protection
in Bill C-55.
amendments that remove important new protections for fish and fish
habitat from Bill C-68, and create obstacles to more marine protection
in Bill C-55.
The Senate has a constitutional duty to
study legislation and refer any proposed amendments to the House of
Commons for reconsideration.
But the Senate has no right to block
environmental legislation duly passed by the democratically elected
House of Commons, especially given that the Liberal Party’s electoral
mandate in October 2015 made enactment of these stronger environmental
laws a priority commitment.
Conservative and several independent
senators have aligned themselves with the oil and gas industry in
seeking to ensure that federal assessments of development projects do
not consider greenhouse gas emissions and restrict public participation
in hearings.