British Columbia Premier David Eby’s ministerial mandate letters are facing criticism over weakened environmental oversight and inadequate nature protections around energy projects.
The letters, which outline the priorities to guide ministers’ policy decisions, focus on affordability, public safety, and economic growth, CBC News reports. Environmental advocacy groups, including Ecojustice, Sierra BC, and West Coast Environmental Law (WCEL), say the new NDP government continues to orient towards liquefied natural gas (LNG) and resource extraction—and away from nature protection and substantive emissions cuts.
Environmental Assessment Exemptions
The mandate for Environment Minister Tamara Davidson prioritizes “expedit[ing] authorizations and permitting for major projects,” setting a dangerous precedent, says WCEL.
“Proposed measures such as exempting whole classes of projects from environmental assessment or arbitrarily limiting time frames for permitting are nothing but a recipe for conflict and uncertainty,” WCEL lawyers wrote in a statement. “We have seen this time and time again when Indigenous rights or community concerns are railroaded over.”
On January 14, Eby placed permitting for the proposed North Coast Transmission Line (NCTL) under the BC Energy Regulator—a Crown corporation that critics have called unaccountable, untransparent, and industry-funded. The NCTL will supply electricity to major LNG projects in northern BC, including the proposed Ksi Lisims floating gas export terminal.
Expediting permitting could also have big implications for the mining industry, which is gearing up for a critical mineral boom as electrification demand rises. The mandate letter for Mining and Critical Minerals Minister Jagrup Brar calls for permitting wait times to be “dramatically reduced” to increase production and attract investment.
“Most mining in BC is not focused on minerals needed for climate transition at all, and studies have shown that economic factors like commodity prices—not red tape, are a more common cause of delays,” wrote WCEL lawyers. “Yet, in the mandate letters we see important environmental and planning measures being held hostage to the agenda of the mining industry.”
Biodiversity and Conservation Priorities ‘Missing’
“We are extremely disappointed by the mandate letters from Premier David Eby to his new cabinet,” Sarah Korpan, government relations and campaign manager at Ecojustice, wrote in a statement.
Korpan, WCEL, and the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) all expressed concern that Eby failed to note key provincial biodiversity policies, including the Coastal Marine Strategy and the Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health Framework.
“The health of ecosystems from inland forests all the way to the coast and beyond depend on the continued development and implementation of these priorities, yet none were mentioned at all,” CPAWS Executive Director Sarah McNeil wrote in a statement.
Letters Emphasize Economic Growth, Prepare for U.S. Tariffs
All the letters include the same points about ensuring economic stability for British Columbians, reducing costs for families, and increasing housing access. The mandate letter for Energy and Climate Solutions Minister Adrian Dix specifies using building retrofits and cleantech to increase energy efficiency and reduce resident costs.
“It’s encouraging to see the new mandate letters emphasize the connection between sustainable economic growth and prosperity, our health, and the foundational need to address climate change,” wrote Jessica Mcilroy, buildings program manager at the Pembina Institute.
Threats of a trade war with the United States also prompted directives to Dix to expand energy export programs to ensure energy independence of the province and its “trade partners”.
“The economy and cost of living are understandably top of mind for many British Columbians, as folks struggle to make ends meet, but ignoring the health of the environment will only make life harder and more expensive in the long run,” wrote Korpan.
