Canada will keep up with U.S., won't cut corners on permitting reform, Wilkinson says

WASHINGTON — Canada’s natural resources minister says he won’t be “cutting corners” when it comes to the environmental assessment process for energy projects.

Jonathan Wilkinson says the government is focused on delivering a new permitting process before the end of the year.

Industry experts say it’s more urgent than ever, now that the U.S. is poised to eliminate duplication and require shorter timelines for environmental assessments.

The U.S. permitting reforms are part of the new Fiscal Responsibility Act, the result of efforts to end the political standoff over the debt ceiling.

That controversy is still far from resolved, however: Congress is divided over the legislation, which aims to stave off a U.S. default before Monday.

If passed, the bill would create a new agency to oversee the permitting process and require environmental reviews take no longer than two years.

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