CPAWS Northern and Southern Alberta
Statement on Getting Major Projects Built in Canada
July 16, 2026
The Northern and Southern Alberta Chapters of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) are deeply concerned about the proposed legislative changes outlined in the Government of Canada’s Discussion Paper “Getting Major Projects Built in Canada”.
Canada must not weaken environmental safeguards, Indigenous rights protections, or public participation in the name of “efficiency.”
The proposals in this discussion paper, combined with parallel federal–provincial initiatives, such as the Co-operation Agreement on Environmental and Impact Assessment between Alberta and Canada, will do exactly that.
Changes proposed in the Discussion Paper include:
- Restricting federal decision-making timelines on major projects to one year,
- Exempting certain projects from key environmental safeguards such as the Jeopardy Test under the Species at Risk Act and the requirement for environmental assessments under the Impact Assessment Act,
- Creating “Federal Economic Zones” where projects would be pre-approved and not subject to certain environmental regulations,
- Allowing early construction activity before approvals or permits are issued and concurrently reviewing permit applications and conducting environmental assessments (when required),
- Increasing reliance on offsetting when a project would destroy fish habitat,
- Putting decision making authority in the hands of specific Ministers or politically appointed bodies such as the Canada Energy Regulator or Canada Nuclear Safety Commission rather than joint decision making with input from Ministers of ECCC and DFO,
- Framing Indigenous Nations as stakeholders rather than rights holders, and
- Reducing opportunities for public engagement by way of reducing oversight by the federal government and strictly limiting decision timelines.
Allowing Cabinet to exempt certain projects from SARA’s jeopardy test, which prohibits projects that would threaten the survival or recovery of a species at risk, would be catastrophic in Alberta.
In Alberta, industrial pressures are already intense, cumulative impacts are not effectively considered, and multiple species at risk are in such dire conditions that a major project could threaten survival or recovery. As such, this exemption would have serious implications for the survival of several of Alberta’s iconic species, including native trout, boreal and southern mountain caribou, wood bison, and other species already on the brink.
The survival of these species, and by extension the integrity of Alberta’s ecosystems, depend on consistent application of the Species at Risk Act.
“We already have significant cause for concern that both Alberta and Canada have a poor performance record on the implementation of existing environmental legislation, including recovering species at risk, and meeting conservation commitments,” says Katie Morrison, Executive Director of CPAWS Southern Alberta.
“This is not theoretical,” Morrison continues. “Alberta’s native trout and caribou species have all experienced alarming declines and are considered threatened or endangered. The proposed changes would further threaten at-risk species and degrade ecosystems, including those that supply drinking water to millions downstream.”
In Alberta, numerous areas of high industrial pressure are also some of the most important areas for water, biodiversity and species at risk in the province. It would be unacceptable to have the proposed “Federal Economic Zones” and the associated pre-approval of major projects in these areas.
Alarmingly, the discussion paper also does not specify how these areas would be applied in National Parks, where conservation of nature is the intended priority. This could mean that beloved parks, like Jasper National Park, have an “economic zone” running through them to facilitate a new pipeline.
“Alberta’s landscapes, waters, and species are already under immense pressure. Weakening federal safeguards now would jeopardize, not only biodiversity, but also long‑term economic stability, community wellbeing, and public trust,” says Kecia Kerr, Executive Director of CPAWS Northern Alberta.
“We urge the Government of Canada to rethink these proposals and commit to a regulatory system that protects nature, respects Indigenous rights, and ensures responsible development for generations to come.”
Negatively impacting nature is not the way to “Nation Build”, especially for a country where nature is a core part of Canadian identity. Therefore, CPAWS Northern and Southern Alberta strongly suggest the Government of Canada:
1. Withdraw proposals to exempt projects from SARA jeopardy tests.
2. Reject the creation of “Economic Zones” that weaken federal oversight.
3. Maintain independent, transparent federal, or joint, impact assessment processes, which already provide a “one project, one review” process, without political interference.
4. Avoid increased reliance on offsetting for activities that would destroy fish habitat.
5. Strengthen, not reduce, public participation opportunities.
6. Ensure Indigenous Nations are treated as rights holders, not stakeholders.
7. Address real sources of delay: early engagement, baseline data, and proponent readiness.
8. Ensure that federal oversight remains strong in Alberta, where provincial regulatory systems have not demonstrated adequate protection of species, watersheds, or public interest.
If you are similarly concerned about the Government of Canada’s Discussion Paper “Getting Major Projects Built in Canada” and want to offer feedback, public comments on the discussion paper can be submitted by email to [email protected] until July 22, 2026.
If you send comments, please CC us at [email protected] and [email protected].
For more information please contact:
Kecia Kerr, CPAWS Northern Alberta, [email protected]
Katie Morrison, CPAWS Southern Alberta, [email protected]
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