REVIEW OF THE NEB AND ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:   On June 20, the Federal government announced  a “Comprehensive Review of Environmental and Regulatory Processes” , involving six ministries: Fisheries and Oceans; Environment and Climate Change; Transport;  Science and Innovation; Indigenous and Northern Affairs; and Natural Resources. A dedicated website houses consultation documents and allows for public input,  since “Consultation will be at the core of this review”.  An expert panel will review the National Energy Board and submit its findings in early 2017; similarly, another panel will review the Environmental Assessment Agency .  The Navigation Protection Act and the Fisheries Act will be reviewed by parliamentary committees starting in the Fall 2016, with a report due January 2017.   See the CBC  or the National Observer    for summaries.

CANADA AND G7 NATIONS PLEDGE TO END FOSSIL FUEL SUBSIDIES: At the G7 Summit in Japan at the end of May, member nations, including Canada, set  a deadline to end government support for coal, and  oil and gas by 2025. The text of the Final Leaders’ Declaration  doesn’t define “subsidy” and  leaves wiggle room by indicating “inefficient” subsidies (see page 7).  And an article in The Guardian singles out Britain for new North Sea tax breaks, Japan for coal expansion,  and Canada for extending subsidies for natural gas production in the February 2016 budget.