Environment minister reviewing court decision on Stephenville hatchery

The minister responsible for environmental regulations in Newfoundland and Labrador, Bernard Davis, says he's reviewing the Court of Appeal decision regarding Northern

Harvest Smolt Ltd.'s application to expand its salmon hatchery in Stephenville, to determine the department's next steps.

Earlier this week the province's Court of Appeal ruled Supreme Court Justice Daniel M. Boone did not err in his 2020 decision that the province's minister of environment violated the Environmental Protection Act by exempting the hatchery expansion proposal from further environmental assessment.

In an emailed response to a request for an interview with Saltwire, minister said, “The decision to release the project was made with full due diligence, following a thorough review, with environmental protection top of mind. The department continues to have confidence in the environmental review process and continuously looks for ways to strengthen legislation and processes.”

Meanwhile, he noted, a review of the province's environment assessment process and regulations is ongoing.

As part of this review, the province conducted a six-week public consultation process last year, culminating in a “what we heard” document.

The goal of the review, said the minister, is to modernize environmental assessments to ensure environmental protection and effective industry regulation.