Environmental groups criticize government walk-back on pollution impact assessment

OTTAWA — Environmental groups are criticizing the Liberal government’s planned amendments to the federal Impact Assessment Act.

The groups said in a letter to cabinet ministers today that Ottawa isn’t fulfilling its responsibility to protect Canadians from pollution.

The government is seeking to limits the scope of the legislation and remove a requirement for federal assessments of projects that produce air pollution across provincial lines.

The changes are outlined in proposed legislation to implement this year’s federal budget.