Community and climate groups in B.C.'s South Okanagan are calling on their Conservative member of Parliament to vote against federal legislation they say will fast-track major projects while weakening environmental and labour protections. First Things First Okanagan Climate Action, the Council of Canadians South Okanagan Chapter and Seniors for Climate South Okanagan plan to gather in front of MP Helena Konanz's Penticton office at noon on Thursday for a National Day of Action. The groups said Konanz voted to advance Bill C-39, the Building Canada Strong Act, to committee review following its second reading on Oct. 8. They are urging her to now vote against the bill.
"Corporations get the fast track. Everyone else in Penticton is left fighting to protect their jobs, their drinking water and their rights. We're asking MP Konanz to stand with the people who elected them and vote no on Bill C-39," said FTFO member Lori Goldman in a press release. The bill aims to accelerate approvals for major projects, cut review times and create zones of "national interest" to pre-approve certain types of developments. The Penticton groups said they are concerned it gives ministers more power to change project conditions after approval and allows the government to designate Regions of National Interest for faster approvals.
The groups highlighted local environmental risks, particularly to water resources after four years of drought. "In the Similkameen-South Okanagan-West Kootenay, water is a serious concern after four years of drought. The expansion of mines and projects in the area, such as the Hudbay Copper Mountain project at Princeton and the proposed AI Data Centre in Christina Lake, put the environment and communities at risk," the FTFO press release said. "There is danger of polluted water, land, and air, and over-use of diminishing water availability for agriculture and consumption." Goldman also pointed to recent protests by Smǝlqmíx-syilx youth in Keremeos over river protection and concerns about the New Ingerbelle project.
Beyond environmental issues, the groups said the bill threatens workers' and Indigenous rights. "It also gives the government new power to order federally regulated workers back on the job before they reach an agreement," they said. The Canadian Labour Congress has expressed concerns that the bill could "put decades of labour stability at risk." First Nations organizations including the Chiefs of Ontario, the Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador, the BC Assembly of First Nations and Nishnawbe Aski Nation have also rejected the bill. The groups argue that designating "regions of interest" means Indigenous communities in vast areas of Canada will not be consulted, preventing them from refusing potentially harmful projects. Goldman said they are also worried that Bill C-39 allows certain work to begin on major projects before the government has made its full decision. The Thursday event will include presentations from residents and organizations. Castanet has reached out to Konanz for comment.
