The Green Party of British Columbia says it will not support the B.C. NDP government’s proposed bill to fast-track the construction of critical infrastructure, including resource development projects.
Premier David Eby’s government has proposed the Infrastructure Projects Act, also known as Bill 15, after pledging in February to fast-track projects that would reduce reliance on the U.S. in the face of ongoing tariffs.
The B.C. Greens are now warning that the bill gives cabinet excessive authority to bypass environmental reviews, local governments and Indigenous decision-makers.
Defiance from the B.C. Greens further complicates the picture for Premier Eby as the law is considered a bill of confidence, and a majority vote against the bill in the legislature would send the province into another election. However, with a slim majority, Eby’s NDP have enough seats to pass the bill themselves if every single one of the party’s MLAs votes in favour.
Announced on May 1, Bill 15 aims to fast-track the construction of schools, hospitals, and other major infrastructure by streamlining permits and allowing the province to designate “provincially significant” projects for expedited approvals.
“In the past few years, B.C. has welcomed an extraordinary number of people, underscoring the need to reduce delays for urgently needed projects,” reads the B.C. government’s release.
But the Green Party of British Columbia said the legislation would grant “sweeping powers” to the government at the expense of transparency, environmental oversight, and Indigenous rights.
“Bill 15, in its current form, grants the NDP cabinet sweeping powers to bypass environmental assessment, municipal authorities, and the jurisdiction of First Nations under the guise of fast-tracking major infrastructure projects,” said interim B.C. Greens Leader Jeremy Valeriote.
The Greens said they support faster infrastructure delivery but warned that the bill’s language, including the definition of “provincially significant,” is too vague.
“We agree that hospitals, schools, and public infrastructure need to be expedited, and that unnecessary red tape must be removed to get these projects built,” Valeriote said. “However, our concern lies with the bill’s provisions allowing the province to approve any project it deems ‘provincially-significant,’ a term that remains undefined and vague.”
The Green caucus cited a broader pattern of power centralization by the NDP.
“There is a troubling trend of legislation from this government that concentrates power and reduces oversight — a trend also visible in Bill 14, the Renewable Energy Projects Act,” said Green House Leader Rob Botterell.
Similarly, concerns were previously levied against the B.C. NDP for its tariff emergency bill, which granted the government “almost unlimited powers.” The B.C. Conservatives called on Premier David Eby to scrap Bill 7 entirely.
Eby defended the bill as necessary to confront economic pressures and U.S. tariffs.
“At a time of uncertainty caused by Donald Trump’s tariffs, it’s more important than ever that we create more good-paying jobs by delivering the critical infrastructure projects people need – faster,” said Eby.
The government emphasized that the bill does not eliminate environmental or Indigenous consultation processes, but streamlines existing frameworks by introducing tools like qualified professional certifications and expedited environmental assessments.
The Green Party of British Columbia sees things differently.
“A fast-tracked approach that skips over consultation is more likely to lead to unintended consequences, so we need to see real amendments and meaningful concessions from the government. Otherwise, we cannot support legislation that places short-term expediency over long-term rights, transparency, and accountability,” said Botterell.