The Office of the Auditor General of Canada has an environmental petitions process which allows any resident of Canada to submit a petition to Ministers of 26 federal departments and agencies who must personally reply to the petition within 120 days. The petitioner can pose questions or concerns they have relating to either environmental or sustainable development matters that fall within the authority of the federal government.
In the past, petitions have covered a diverse range of issues from oil tankers on the west coast, salmon farming, fisheries, pollution, shale gas fracking, toxic chemicals and climate change. The petition, subject to the consent of the petitioner, is published on our website along with the Ministerial response which allows more Canadians to become informed about the issues raised.
The following internet links take the viewer to the Environmental Petitions Guide, the petitions catalogue of past environmental petitions and to various audits the Office has conducted related to issues which may be of interest.
Video relating to the Environmental Petitions Process
www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/internet/English/pet_fs_e_919.html
Getting Answers – A Guide to the Environmental Petitions Process
www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/internet/docs/pet_lp_e_930.pdf
Environmental Petitions Catalogue
www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/internet/English/pet_lp_e_941.html
List of recent petitions and audits relating to west coast concerns.
Petitions
#343 – Potential trade impacts if ISA is detected in Canadian Salmon
www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/internet/English/pet_343_e_37901.html
#336 – Federal policy and approval regime for oil tankers in B.C.
www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/internet/English/pet_336_e_37113.html
#328 – Implementation status of Wastewater Systems Effluent Regulations
www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/internet/English/pet_328_e_36429.html
Audits
2012 – Chapter 2 – Financial Assurances – (refer to paragraphs #2.56 – 2.66 related to marine transportation of oil)
www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/internet/English/parl_cesd_201212_02_e_37711.html#hd4d
2011 – Chapter 4 – A study of managing fisheries for sustainability
www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/internet/English/parl_cesd_201112_04_e_36032.html
2010 – Chapter 1 – Oil spills from ships
www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/internet/English/parl_cesd_201012_e_34435.html
Submitted