On April 30, 2024, the Government of Canada announced widely-anticipated amendments to the Impact Assessment Act IAA or Act as part of a 663 page omnibus budget bill. Canada announced the 2024 budget with the tagline Fairness for Every Generation, claiming that the amendments to the IAA are both constitutionally sound and allow for a more efficient assessment process.
On April 16, 2024, the Canadian Government released the 2024 federal budget, including details on the much-anticipated federal Indigenous Loan Guarantee Program ILG Program. First announced in the government s 2023 Fall Economic Statement, the ILG Program will provide up to $5 billion in loan guarantees to Indigenous communities, and support Indigenous communities to share in Canada s prosperity and benefit from the new opportunities ahead.
As businesses finalize their reports under the Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act the Act in advance of the May 31, 2024, statutory deadline, Public Safety Canada has updated its administrative guidance to clarify certain technical requirements, while also sowing confusion in respect of the basic question of which entities have reporting obligations under the Act. Public Safety Canada revised its guidance for Entities, originally issued in December 2023, on March 5, and March 20, 2024, and also added a page for answers to top questions and other amendments on March 5. A separate section was also added to the guidance website on March 13, 2024, to address the reporting obligations of government institutions.
On June 15, 2023, the Government of British Columbia announced BC Hydro was proceeding with a call for new sources of 100 percent clean, renewable emission-free electricity from large-scale projects, notably including wind and solar. As part of phase two of BC Hydro s engagement process, on January 8, 2024, BC Hydro issued a draft Request for Proposals RFP. Organizations within the independent power industry, First Nations and stakeholders were invited to provide feedback on the draft RFP, and the resulting draft specimen Electricity Purchase Agreement.
The Alberta government has identified, and is taking proactive steps to address, the looming threat of a severe drought this year. As negotiations unfold to secure water-sharing agreements, a cascade of legal and economic considerations emerges. In particular, the implications for various sectors, including agriculture and oil and gas, pose challenges and require well thought-out responses. In a recent letter, the Alberta government Government informed water licence holders that it will be bringing together major water licence holders to negotiate water sharing agreements.