Natural Resources Minister Jim Carr will announce a new environmental assessment process for pipeline projects. 

CBCNews.ca will carry the announcement live after 4:50 p.m. ET. 

Carr will be accompanied by Environment and Climate Change Minister Catherine McKenna.

The Liberals promised during the last election campaign that it would "modernize" the National Energy Board to restore confidence among Canadians in its review process.

"If major energy projects have the confidence of Canadians … it'll be good news for the Canadian economy," Carr said on his way into his party's weekly caucus meeting Wednesday.

Pipeline Proposal Reviews 20151118

Minister of Natural Resources Jim Carr will announce a new environmental assessment process for pipeline projects under review by the National Energy Board. (Justin Tang/Canadian Press)

"People want to know that the process is up and running and fair."

But Carr told CBC News in an interview last week that projects that are already before the NEB — including Kinder Morgan's Trans Mountain and TransCanada's Energy East pipelines — will not have to start the process from "square one," but will rather face a transition process.

The party has pledged to expand public consultation and better analyze greenhouse gas emissions that would result from approving pipeline projects.

The Liberals contend their Conservative predecessors interfered in the independent board's affairs in order to push pipeline projects through faster.

The party has also vowed to reverse Tory changes to the Fisheries Act and the elimination of the Navigable Waters Protection Act, which they say has weakened environmental protections.

The government's announcement comes on the heels of a new audit report by Canada's environment watchdog that found the NEB failed to follow through and adequately track the compliance of pipeline companies with the conditions set for their projects.

With files from Susana Mas