Forward Regulatory Plan: Onshore Pipeline Regulations

Enabling act(s)
Canadian Energy Regulator Act

Description
On August 28, 2019, the National Energy Board became the Canada Energy Regulator (CER). Regulations made under the National Energy Board Act remain in force under the Canadian Energy Regulator Act (CER Act) until they are repealed or others made in their stead. New regulations and updates to existing regulations are being implemented through a phased approach.

The CER has initiated a review of the Canadian Energy Regulator Onshore Pipeline Regulations (OPR), the CER’s principal regulation for onshore pipelines. The review is part of the CER’s commitment to continual improvement of regulations that provide requirements for safety, security and protection of the environment, and includes updates for alignment with the CER Act.

This regulatory initiative is associated with the CER’s Regulatory Stock Review Plan.

Regulatory cooperation efforts (domestic and international)
As part of overall engagement efforts, the CER consults with provinces and other regulators to help inform regulatory development.

Potential impacts on Canadians, including businesses
The goal of the review is to identify opportunities for improvement, and seek input to inform the approach to the regulations. Stakeholder groups to be consulted include CER-regulated companies, Indigenous peoples, and stakeholders with an interest in oil and gas pipelines. The regulatory initiative will not involve significant impacts on international trade or investment.

Consultations
We are aiming to begin engagement in the fall of 2021. Information on consultation opportunities will appear on the CER’s Consultation and Engagement Activities webpage.

Further information

Canada Energy Regulator contact information
Fern  Hietkamp
Regulatory Policy
Telephone: (403) 919-7411
Toll Free: 1-800-899-1265
Fax: (403) 292-5503
Email: fern.hietkamp@cer-rec.gc.ca

Date the regulatory initiative was first included in the Forward Regulatory Plan
14 January 2020

Consult the Canada Energy Regulator’s Acts and Regulations web page for:

  • a list of acts and regulations administered by the Canada Energy Regulator
  • further information on the Canada Energy Regulator’s implementation of government-wide regulatory management initiatives

Consult the following for links to the Cabinet Directive on Regulation and supporting policies and guidance, and for information on government-wide regulatory initiatives implemented by departments and agencies across the Government of Canada:

To learn about upcoming or ongoing consultations on proposed federal regulations, visit:

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