As of March 31, the federal government has given Environment Minister Jim Prentice authority to circumvent full assessments of major mines and energy projects. Prentice will now be able to choose certain projects and only require them to have environmental and procedural assessments for small areas of the whole project, streamlining approval. This was not included in the initial yearly budget proposal earlier in the month and was only revealed once a more detailed financial plan was revealed. In 2010, much of the rulings and review process for claims of Indigenous rights and title were tied to the Environmental Assessment Act. By shortening and minimizing the environmental assessment process, consultation processes with Indigenous communities will be shorter and there will be even less legal consideration of how projects impact BC First Nations and their land. This was a key issue at the BC First Nations Summit in early April; the Chiefs concluded by proposing a new environmental review process that is streamlined and comprehensive. This was not undertaken by Harper’s government.