Bill C-39 Overhauls Environmental Statutes and Assessment Framework
- Bill C-39 spans more than 240 pages and functions as an omnibus bill touching the environment, labor, and transportation sectors.
- The legislation removes the 2019 environmental assessment framework implemented by the government of Justin Trudeau.
- The current legislative effort follows the passage of Bill C-5 in June 2025, which established the Major Projects Office as a single window to coordinate regulatory requirements across...
Scope and Intent of Bill C-39
Bill C-39 spans more than 240 pages and functions as an omnibus bill touching the environment, labor, and transportation sectors. The reform modifies seven key environmental statutes, including the Impact Assessment Act, the Canadian Energy Regulator Act, the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, the Fisheries Act, the Canadian Navigable Waters Act, and the Species at Risk Act.
The legislation removes the 2019 environmental assessment framework implemented by the government of Justin Trudeau. Prime Minister Carney defended the overhaul during question period on September 24, 2026, framing the shift as a necessary measure for efficiency. The federal government intends to enforce a standard requiring one project, one assessment, and an approval timeline capped at one year, which includes mandatory consultations with affected Indigenous communities.
Comparison With Previous Legislation
The current legislative effort follows the passage of Bill C-5 in June 2025, which established the Major Projects Office as a single window to coordinate regulatory requirements across federal departments. Bill C-5 sought to shorten approval timelines from five years to two years for specific national interest initiatives such as mines, ports, pipelines, power transmission lines, and high-speed rail.
However, critics note that the earlier law fell short of expectations. Heather Exner-Pirot, director of natural resources, energy, and environment at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, pointed out the limitations of the prior framework. C-5 n’a pas tenu ses promesses l’année dernière
and La loi C-5 n’a fait des réformes que pour des projets triés sur le volet
noted Heather Exner-Pirot, director of natural resources, energy, and environment at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute. While Bill C-5 granted discretionary authority to bypass at least 12 laws and 7 environmental regulations for select developments on a temporary basis, Bill C-39 expands those measures across all project categories.
Next Steps for National Projects
Parliament is evaluating numerous infrastructure initiatives under the new policy framework, including controversial proposals like the West Coast oil pipeline designed to move one million barrels of crude oil daily from the Alberta oil sands to British Columbia for export to Asia. Authorities expect to decide soon whether that infrastructure proposal receives official designation as a major project of national interest, which would qualify it for expedited regulatory processing under the revised rules.