Carney Bill to Speed Projects Passes Vote Despite Indigenous Opposition

From Bloomberg

Canada’s House of Commons has cleared a bill to accelerate the building of major projects such as pipelines, which aims to fast-track construction by allowing projects deemed in the “national interest” to receive a quicker review for environmental and other impacts.

Indigenous groups are threatening to force a legal battle over the bill, saying it gives the government power to ram projects through their territories without proper consultation.

The bill now heads to the Senate, where it faces a final vote, expected next week, before becoming law, with Prime Minister Mark Carney aiming to see big projects approved within two years.