In its submission today to the special Legislative Committee on Bill C-39, the BC Humanist Association (BCHA) is joining calls from scientists, environmentalists, First Nations leaders and labour leaders for the government to scrap the Bill.
At nearly 250 pages, Bill C-39, the Building Canada Strong Act, is a significant piece of legislation that proposes to introduce, amend and repeal over twenty separate laws in an effort to speed up the approval of major projects to promote economic growth. However, many groups across civil society have sounded the alarm about the scale and speed at which these proposals are moving through Parliament.
In its brief to the special Parliamentary committee, the BCHA raises a number of concerns based on core Humanist principles:
- Democratic oversight: Omnibus bills rushed through Parliament undermine democratic accountability.
- Evidence-based decision making: Bill C-39 sidelines the role of expert advice and oversight.
- Environmental protections: The Bill promotes accelerated oil pipelines and prioritizes economic considerations over our climate obligations.
- Indigenous rights: Canada must uphold its commitment to bring our laws into alignment with UNDRIP.
- Workers rights: Freedom of association is undermined by measures that undermine collective bargaining and the right to strike.
The BCHA cites opposition to the Bill C-39 from: Evidence for Democracy, Fellows of the Royal Society of Canada, West Coast Environmental Law Ecojustice, BC Assembly of First Nations, First Peoples Law, Canadian Labour Congress, CUPE and more.