PDAC Response to Amendments of Authorizations Concerning Fish and Fish Habitat Protection Regulations under the Fisheries Act

PDAC welcomes the ongoing efforts by Fisheries and Oceans Canada to improve regulatory efficiencies through amendments to Authorizations Concerning Fish and Fish Habitat Protection Regulations (Authorizations Regulations) under the Fisheries Act. 

PDAC supports efforts to reduce regulatory burden by aligning authorization and information requirements to project risk and type, and delaying financial guarantees to the post-approval pre-construction stage of project development. PDAC advises caution regarding expanded grounds for the Minister to amend an authorization, emphasizing the importance of clear terms and replicable and predictable applications of these powers. Finally, DFO must actively coordinate with other regulators, federally and provincially, to determine communities of interest and the scope and scale of consultation.