By Natasha Bulowski, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Canada’s National Observer Prime Minister Mark Carney’s new bill to fast-track major projects will have to rely on Conservative votes to pass, with all other parties expressing major reservations. The legislation would allow the federal government to conditionally approve projects it deems “in the national interest” before an environmental or impact assessment or other regulatory processes take place. Both the NDP and Greens have spoken out against it, while Patrick Bonin, Bloc Québécois environment and climate change critic, called Carney’s plan to fast-track major projects “highly problematic” at a French-language press conference on Monday. The federal government is seeking to give itself “superpowers” to accelerate projects and weaken environmental protections, Bonin said. Some of the factors used to evaluate whether a project is…
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