Premier Moe calls passage of Bills C-69 and C-48 a 'dark chapter' for energy and industrial sectors

Two federal bills heavily criticized by Saskatchewan's premier have passed through the Senate, prompting a fresh attack from Scott Moe.

On Thursday, the Senate passed Bill C-69, which overhauls the federal environmental assessment process for major construction projects. Senators voted 57-37.

Bill C-48, which bans tankers carrying more than 12,500 metric tons of oil from docking along B.C.'s north coast, an area that stretches from the northern tip of Vancouver Island to the Alaska border, passed narrowly on a vote of 49-46.

On Friday, Moe said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, "will answer to Canadians this October for why he does not support their jobs, and for why he disapproves of our sustainable energy and industrial sectors."

"The passage of Bills C-69 and C-48 marks a dark chapter for our energy and industrial sectors, and is deeply concerning for our government and all those that value the economic prosperity of our nation," Moe said in a statement Friday.

C-69 imposes more requirements for consulting affected Indigenous communities, widens public participation in the review process and requires climate change to be considered when major national resource-exploitation and transportation projects are being evaluated.

The Senate made more than 200 amendments to that bill earlier this month, but the government accepted only 99 of them, mostly to do with reducing ministerial discretion to intervene in the review process.

Both bills will now proceed to a formal Royal Assent ceremony — set to be held on Friday afternoon — to become law.

For months Moe, workers in the oil and gas sector, and interest groups in Saskatchewan and Alberta have condemned the bills. Rallies opposing the bills and the carbon tax have been held in both provinces.

"Through this legislation, the federal government has sent a clear message to the Canadian and international investment community that they do not support the competitiveness of our wealth generating and job creating sectors," Moe said.

Moe called the approval of the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion earlier this week a "positive step," but said the passage of Bills C-69 and C-48 is a step back.