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MONTREAL \u2014 A group of environmental lawyers says it has filed a lawsuit in Quebec Superior Court challenging the validity of the federal government\u2019s major projects law.<\/p>\n
Centre qu\u00e9b\u00e9cois du droit de l\u2019environnement says the legislation gives the government excessive powers and jeopardizes democracy and environmental protections.<\/p>\n
Prime Minister Mark Carney has said the law passed in June aims to speed up federal approval for projects of national interest, such as mines, ports, and pipelines.<\/p>\n
The government passed the law to boost the economy and strengthen Canada\u2019s sovereignty in response to the trade war launched by the United States.<\/p>\n
Genevi\u00e8ve Paul, executive director of the environmental group, says the law removes the ability of the public and the courts to act as a check on government decisions, a role protected by the Constitution.<\/p>\n
Paul says projects will be greenlit without full consideration of their potential impacts, adding that the law allows Ottawa to set aside some federal and provincial environmental regulations.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are talking about projects with potentially serious impacts \u2026 impacts that may be irreversible on our ecosystems, water, and air,\u201d Paul said in an interview.<\/p>\n
The federal government has unveiled the first five major infrastructure projects selected for accelerated approval: an expansion of the Port of Montreal; work to double liquefied natural gas production in British Columbia; a small modular nuclear reactor in Ontario; and a pair of mines in Saskatchewan and northwestern B.C.<\/p>\n
In addition to the environmental group\u2019s lawsuit, nine First Nations in Ontario have asked the Ontario Superior Court to declare the law unconstitutional. They argue that it poses a \u201cclear and present danger\u201d to First Nations\u2019 right to self-determination regarding their way of life on their territories.<\/p>\n
\u00a92025 The Canadian Press<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n