In a recent speech to a business audience, an environmental protection organisation called the Environment Canada’s Eco-Defence Task Force condemned the way Canada’s environmental protection agencies have been treated over the past three years.

In a presentation, the Eco-Defense Task Force called the recent changes to the government’s Environmental Protection Act (EPA) a “disgusted, unneeded and unnecessary” change.

The EPA’s rules have been changed to protect corporate interests, it said.

It said the changes will likely have a negative impact on the environment, with a loss of “quality” jobs for the country’s manufacturing sector.

“We’re very much concerned about the loss of quality jobs that have been lost, including manufacturing jobs that rely on having these rules to protect them,” said Marc Delorey, an executive director at Eco- Defense.

“And that’s why we’re urging the government to take the necessary steps to ensure that the government is protecting these jobs in the environment,” he said.

The Environmental Defence task force also urged Canada’s environment minister to suspend the “essential” regulations that were recently announced by Environment Canada to protect industrial properties.

“The essential regulations were not implemented in a timely manner,” said Delorex, noting that the changes are expected to be finalized in the coming months.

The task force called on the government “to halt the process of issuing this essential regulations and to ensure proper safeguards are in place.”

Environment Canada spokesperson Catherine LeBreton said the agency is committed to protecting Canadians’ environment, and has taken steps to help protect the environment in the wake of the March 2015 spill of a large oil spill.

“In response to the spill, we have reviewed all essential regulations to ensure they comply with the requirements of the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Act and are in line with the law, including the requirement for a safe workplace,” LeBreon said.

“Those are the regulations that we are working to meet and we will continue to do so.”