There's a weary outlook from opposition MPs in the build up to the unveiling of Environment Canterbury's future this afternoon.

The government will announce its official plan for ECan at 2:30pm, with many predicting it'll follow an initial proposal of a mixture of appointed and elected councillors.

Minister Nick Smith previously stated the plan reflected the fears of Canterbury's mayors - that the council would return to its dysfunctional past.

But Labour's Megan Woods argues it's time to move on.

"It's not democracy, it's not the return to an elected regional council that Cantabrians have been waiting for. The Government has yet to make the case why it's going to treat Canterbury any different and bottom line for me, it's not good enough."

Green MP Eugenie Sage contends the lack of democracy is a public snub.

"I think they'd already made the decision to have a second class council model for Canterbury. No other council has that. People pay rates, people deserve to be fully represented through a fully elected council."