A Preliminary Framework for Expedited Environmental Assessment

The Business Council of British Columbia (BCBC) appreciates the opportunity to provide feedback on the Environmental Assessment Office’s Discussion Paper on a Preliminary Framework for Expedited Environmental Assessment (Expedited EA). This submission builds on our prior contributions to the Environmental Assessment Office’s five-year review of the Environmental Assessment Act (September 2024), the Infrastructure Projects Act (September 2025), the Alternative Dispute Resolution in Environmental Assessments (December 2025), and proposed changes to the Heritage Conservation Act (November 2025).

British Columbia is navigating one of the most consequential economic junctures in its history with record deficits and debt, weak private sector hiring and investment, and slow economic growth. Our deteriorating fiscal position has drawn sharp scrutiny from capital markets with S&P Global and Moody's each recently downgrading the province's credit rating and maintaining negative outlooks. Compounding this, B.C.'s regulatory system has become a systemic barrier to large-scale investment at precisely the moment trade uncertainty demands greater competitiveness.