M-76 Amendment to the Impact Assessment Act

That the House recognize that,

(i) Canadians cherish our Rocky Mountains and do not want to see the natural landscape and water quality diminished or destroyed by the introduction or continuation of destructive coal mining, coal exploration, or expansion of previous coal mining operations,

(ii) coal mining is a sunsetting industry with limited potential to provide economic benefit or long-term employment, but has significant legacy costs to Canadians,

(iii) coal exploration and development threaten vital fish and wildlife habitat and further endangers species at risk,

(iv) the federal government has an important role to play to ensure resource exploration and development proposals meet the highest standards of consultation and involvement with Indigenous peoples in accordance with section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982, the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the TRC 94 Calls to Action,

(v) the failure of the Alberta government to provide adequately environmental stewardship;

and that, in the opinion of the House, the government should amend the Impact Assessment Act as well as all other regulations in place to require that any coal mine expansion be subject to an environmental impact assessment.