OFA has provided comments to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks through their consultation process on proposed amendments to the Environmental Assessment Act to improve the comprehensive environmental assessment process.
OFA emphasizes that environmental assessments must continue to consider all environmental, social, economic, cultural, built conditions, and agricultural impacts. OFA maintains that Agricultural Impact Assessments (AIAs) should be mandatory for any project that could affect agricultural lands, activities, or systems.
OFA opposes proposed changes that would reduce public participation and oversight, including the removal of Ministry Reviews, the elimination of Tribunal referral requests, and the removal of Cabinet approval authority. These measures are viewed as important safeguards that help ensure transparency, accountability, and meaningful public consultation.
OFA also supports maintaining strong consultation timelines and ensuring that all project proponents remain accountable for consultation obligations and liabilities. Streamlined environmental assessments may be appropriate in some cases, provided AIAs remain mandatory where agricultural impacts are possible.