Repeal C-69, C-48 and energy cap

AI summary

Petitioners ask government to repeal C-69 and C-48, require six‑month approvals, protect environment and Indigenous rights, remove oil and gas production cap. The government responds it amended assessments, sped reviews and dropped the cap.

AI summaries describe petitioners’ requests and claims. Consult the official record for the full text.

Official petition

Petition to the Government of Canada We, the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada, call on the Government of Canada to note the following: Whereas: Canada holds vast reserves of oil and natural gas that could stabilize global energy markets, support our democratic allies, and power Canadian paycheques — but only if those resources can reach tidewater and diversified world markets; Global energy markets are now in acute disruption due to war in the Middle East and threats to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, leaving our allies urgently searching for secure supplies from friendly democracies like Canada; Prime Minister Mark Carney promised to move with "unimaginable speed," to "build now," and to approve major projects quickly; yet his government has not approved a single new pipeline or major energy project despite being given exceptional powers in Parliament to do so; Instead of delivering on those promises, the Prime Minister's government has doubled the deficit, presided over Canada's shrinking G7 economy, and turned a political ceremony and press releases into a substitute for actual permits and construction; It was the Liberal government that introduced Bill C-69, the so-called "anti-development" law that has stalled major projects, and Bill C-48, which effectively bans the shipment of oil from parts of Canada's coastline and blocks access to Pacific and Atlantic markets; Liberal red tape has made it take almost 18 years to open a mine - 23% longer than Australia and 38% longer than the United States - while investors, jobs, and billions in economic activity have been driven to other countries; and Canada now exports 98% of its crude oil to the United States, leaving our producers and workers at the mercy of American policy and a single market rather than getting world prices through pipelines and LNG terminals to the Pacific and Atlantic. Therefore, we, the undersigned, petition the Government of Canada to: 1. Repeal Bill C-69 and Bill C-48 and replace them with a regulatory framework that protects the environment, respects Indigenous rights, and allows responsible energy projects to be built; 2. Commit to clear, predictable, maximum six-month decision timelines for approvals of major energy and resource projects so investors, workers, and communities have certainty; and 3. Scrap the federal Energy Cap on Canadian oil and gas production so that responsible, lower emissions Canadian energy can grow, compete globally, and displace higher emitting sources from hostile or unstable regimes.

Government response

Response by the Minister of the Environment, Climate Change and Nature Signed by The Honourable JULIE DABRUSIN The Impact Assessment Act was amended in 2024 to ensure it is constitutionally sound and provides regulatory certainty for industry investors. With these amendments in place, there are enhanced opportunities for efficiency and reliance on, and co-operation with, other jurisdictions. The Government of Canada has established co-operation agreements with provinces in order to take advantage of these opportunities and ensure a “one project, one review” approach. To date, the government has finalized seven co-operation agreements, with British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island and a draft with Newfoundland and Labrador is near complete. We continue to work with the remaining provinces. What has not changed as a result of these amendments is the regulatory framework that ensures protection of the human and natural environment through robust planning, transparency, and consultation with Indigenous Peoples that respects Indigenous rights and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Furthermore, between June 20, 2024 (when the amended Impact Assessment Act came into force) and June 22, 2026, twenty-eight final decisions have been issued under the Impact Assessment Act in an average review time of eight months, if proponent driven stoppages are not included. This will support $32.7 billion in new direct investment in responsible development across Canada, including major energy projects such as the Ksi Lisims Liquefied Natural Gas and Marine Terminal Project and the Cedar Liquefied Natural Gas Project. Repealing the Impact Assessment Act and putting in place new, untested legislation could create regulatory uncertainty for investors, delay approvals for projects already in the system, impact the durability of decisions, and compromise co-operation between jurisdictions. Since March 2025, and the change in the government’s direction and prioritization of major project development, twenty-six projects have entered the impact assessment system as of June 22, 2026 – almost triple the historic annual average since the Impact Assessment Act came into force in 2019. This corresponds with the surge in foreign investment inflows in 2025 to its strongest level since 2007. Between June 20, 2024 (when the amended Impact Assessment Act came into force) and June 22, 2026, twenty-eight final decisions have been issued in an average review time of eight months if proponent driven stoppages are not included. This will support $32.7 billion in new direct investment in responsible development across Canada, including major energy projects, such as the Ksi Lisims Liquefied Natural Gas and Marine Terminal Project and the Cedar Liquefied Natural Gas Project. Given the dramatic increase in projects that have entered the federal impact assessment system, and the speed of decision-making during this time, this is an indication that workers and communities have the certainty they need, supporting a more robust economy, meaningful employment, and thriving communities. On November 27, Canada’s Prime Minister and Alberta’s Premier signed a memorandum of understanding. As stated in Budget 2025, and affirmed as a condition of the memorandum of understanding with Alberta, the Government of Canada indicated it will not move ahead with the proposed oil and gas emissions cap. With effective carbon markets, enhanced oil and gas methane regulations, and the deployment at scale of technologies such as carbon capture and storage, the oil and gas emissions cap would no longer be required as it would have marginal value in reducing emissions. The Government of Canada has a renewed focus on enhancing global competitiveness, improving efficiency, and ensuring Canadian resources can reach world markets. Canada’s leadership in decarbonizing oil and gas production will position it as a supplier of choice for low-carbon fossil fuels, with key partners in Asia and the European Union continuing to show interest in lower-emitting imports. This is part of the government’s plan to transform Canada’s economy from one that is reliant on a single trading partner to one that is stronger, more self-sufficient, and resilient to global shocks. Response by the President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade, Intergovernmental Affairs, Internal Trade and One Canadian Economy Signed by Tim Louis The Government of Canada plans to make changes to laws, regulations, and policies to meet its commitment to ensure project decisions are made in a timely manner. These efforts are to make it clear that major projects can be built efficiently in Canada while maintaining strong environmental protections and respecting the rights of Indigenous Peoples. On May 8, 2026, the government announced the launch of an engagement period with Indigenous Peoples, provinces and territories, and the Canadian public on potential changes that would ensure federal reviews and decision-making timelines take no longer than one-year, once all information from the project proponent has been received. In the past, it has often taken more than five years for a project to receive the federal decisions necessary to begin construction. These proposals will improve regulatory efficiency by ensuring that federal impact assessments and permit reviews can happen at the same time instead of one after the other, and by creating a regulatory system where a single comprehensive federal decision is made on permits and approvals for major projects. The proposed regulatory and legislative reforms are part of the Government’s plan to build a stronger Canada - helping companies across the country build their projects faster, attracting investment, boosting competitiveness, and growing Canada’s economy.