Reactions to the 2010 Budget

Since being tabled on March 4th, the 2010 Federal Budget has been widely discussed within the environmental NGO community, with many groups expressing disappointment, several calling it a missed opportunity and others highlighting some positive investments for the environment. For informational purposes, the RCEN has assembled a list of responses to the 2010 Budget and what it means for the environment, environmental assessments and non-profits in general:

• Green Budget Coalition: “Encouraged on water and indicators, disappointed overall”
• Climate Action Network Canada: “Monumental failure to address climate change in a meaningful way”
• Environment Minister, Jim Prentice: "Budget 2010 includes new measures totaling $190 million to support a cleaner, more sustainable environment”

Environmental Assessments
Proposed changes to environmental assessments (EA) for large energy projects have also generated a lot of discussion. In short, the Budget states that “responsibility for conducting EAs for energy projects will be delegated from the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency to the National Energy Board and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission for projects falling under their respective areas of expertise” (p.104).

• Read the Sierra Club of Canada’s reaction to this news
• Read Minister Prentice’s explanation in the Calgary Herald: “Cutting red tape in green way”

Budget Impacts on Non-Profits
The 2010 Budget also signalled the elimination of the disbursement quota regime governing how charities manage their spending.

• Read Imagine Canada’s reaction to the Budget and how it affects charities and non-profits

In regards to changes that may affect non-profit organizations funded by the government, Budget 2010 announces a number of review processes aimed at “reducing costs and improving efficiency” (p.162), namely:

• Strategic reviews of departmental programs that will identify 5 per cent of the lowest-priority and lowest-performing ones (p.162)
• A comprehensive review of government administrative functions and overhead costs (p.162)
• Ensuring that ongoing assessment processes of grants and contributions provided to organizations is tied to furthering government priorities and achieving results for Canadians (p.163)

Budget 2010 is available online at: http://www.budget.gc.ca/2010/index.html