Browse 18,548 regulations from 36 regulators

Decision by Governor in Council

Section 186 of the Canadian Energy Regulator Act grants the Governor in Council authority to issue binding orders on pipeline certificate applications following CER recommendations. The Governor may approve certificates with conditions, dismiss applications, or refer recommendations for reconsideration. Orders must include written reasons demonstrating consideration of relevant factors and be issued within 90 days (extendable). Orders are final, must be published in the Canada Gazette within 15 days, and the CER must comply within seven days.

Revocation of certificates — contravention

The Canadian Energy Regulator may revoke a certificate if the holder violates any condition, subject to Governor in Council approval. The regulator must provide written notice of the alleged violation and grant the certificate holder an opportunity to be heard before revocation.

Application of certain provisions

Section 266 of the Canadian Energy Regulator Act extends pipeline regulatory provisions to international and interprovincial power lines. Applicants and permit/certificate holders must follow intervention, certification, and permitting procedures under specified sections. Deviations crossing navigable waters require heightened scrutiny under section 211. Abandonment provisions do not apply to power lines.

Orders

The Canadian Energy Regulator Commission may issue orders governing the design, construction, operation, and abandonment of facilities crossing interprovincial and international power lines. Orders authorize facility crossings, regulate ground disturbances, govern vehicle operation, allocate construction costs, and specify activities. The Regulator may also make complementary regulations with Governor in Council approval.

Regulations

The Canadian Energy Regulator may establish regulations designating contraventions of the CER Act, permits, orders, and conditions as enforceable violations subject to administrative penalties up to $25,000 for individuals and $100,000 for other persons. Regulations will specify penalty determination methods and service procedures.

Reporting Requirements for Waste Nuclear Substance Licensees, Class II Nuclear Facilities and Users of Prescribed Equipment, Nuclear Substances and Radiation Devices

Relocation

The Canadian Energy Regulator may order holders of international or interprovincial power line permits or certificates to relocate infrastructure when necessary to facilitate construction or relocation of other facilities. The regulator determines cost allocation between parties, requires mandatory consultation procedures, and may order reimbursement of reasonable costs incurred by persons making submissions.

Application

Section 271 of the Canadian Energy Regulator Act establishes CER jurisdiction over international and interprovincial power lines. The CER may issue permits and certificates for power lines crossing borders or within federal authority, including those crossing navigable waters. The CER may also authorize power line relocations to facilitate facility construction or reconstruction.

Form of compensation payment if land taken

Under Canadian Energy Regulator Act section 329, when a company takes or leases land, the Regulator must direct compensation payment at the landowner's option as either a lump sum or periodic payments. Interest may be awarded at the prime business loan rate from the date of land entry or when damages first occurred.

Powers of liquidators, trustees, etc.

Section 5 of the Canadian Energy Regulator Act expands the definition of 'company' for regulatory purposes to include liquidators, receivers, managers, and trustees authorized to operate businesses; persons operating pre-1953 pipelines or exempted pipelines; Quebec court-appointed administrators; and successors handling abandoned pipelines.

Definitions

Section 113 of the Canadian Energy Regulator Act establishes legal privilege protection for voice and video recordings of operating personnel at regulated energy facilities. Recordings are privileged and non-disclosable except when requested by the Regulator for accident inquiries, by coroners for investigations, or when courts determine public interest in justice outweighs privilege. Recordings cannot be used in disciplinary proceedings against facility operators or employees.

Order to reconsider

Section 193 of the Canadian Energy Regulator Act grants the Governor in Council authority to order the Commission to reconsider its decisions, with discretion to specify factors for consideration and completion timelines. The Commission must report any resulting changes to its recommendations back to the Governor in Council.

Orphan Pipelines Account

The Canadian Energy Regulator Act establishes an Orphan Pipelines Account to manage surplus security funds from abandoned pipelines. Surplus amounts—calculated as ordered security minus actual abandonment costs—may be credited to the account and earn annual interest. The account can fund abandonment costs when company security is insufficient, but companies remain fully liable for all abandonment obligations.

Recommendation and delay of issuance

The Canadian Energy Regulator may recommend to the Minister that an international power line be designated by Governor in Council order and may delay permit issuance during this process. The Regulator must avoid duplicating provincial measures and must consider interprovincial effects, environmental impacts, and regulatory factors when deciding whether to recommend designation.

Construction — utility

Pipeline companies must obtain a Canadian Energy Regulator certificate or conditional leave before constructing pipelines that cross utilities (highways, telecommunications, transmission lines, sewers, drainage systems). The Commission may grant leave with or without conditions, require documentation, and retroactively approve urgent work if advance notice was provided.

Terms and conditions before July 3, 2013

Transitional provision establishing that terms, conditions, and approvals imposed before July 3, 2013 on international or interprovincial power lines under the former National Energy Board Act remain enforceable under the Canadian Energy Regulator Act. Constructors must comply with previously approved orders, regulations, plans, and specifications unless modified by the Canadian Energy Regulator.

Matters to be taken into account

The Canadian Energy Regulator must consider all written submissions and public hearing representations when approving pipeline construction plans, routes, and methods. The Regulator may approve sections where no submissions have been filed.

Criteria

The Canadian Energy Regulator must not issue an export licence for oil or gas unless it determines the export quantity does not exceed Canada's surplus after accounting for reasonably foreseeable domestic requirements and considering Canadian oil and gas discovery trends.

Proof of financial responsibility

Under Canadian Energy Regulator Act section 304, applicants for CER authorization must provide proof of financial responsibility (letter of credit, guarantee, indemnity bond, or other acceptable form). This proof must remain in force throughout the authorized activity. The Regulator may draw on these funds for eligible claims, with amounts recovered offset against subsequent legal liability awards.

Limitation

Canadian Energy Regulator Act section 241 requires pipeline companies to obtain Commission approval before abandoning any pipeline. Companies must notify affected landowners and publish notices in local media. Mandatory public hearings apply if written opposition is filed unless withdrawn or deemed frivolous. The Commission may impose conditions on abandonment approvals, and companies remain liable for abandoned pipelines.

Variation or transfer of permits

The Canadian Energy Regulator Commission may vary or transfer permits issued under the Canadian Energy Regulator Act either on its own motion or upon application. When varying or transferring a permit, the Commission may impose new or modified conditions it deems necessary to advance the Act's purposes and provisions.

Period of validity

Under the Canadian Energy Regulator Act, permits and licences issued by the regulator have a maximum validity period of 30 years.

Authorized tolls

Section 229 of the Canadian Energy Regulator Act prohibits pipeline companies from charging tolls unless authorized by filed and approved tariffs or Commission orders. When companies own the oil, gas, or commodities transported through their pipelines, they must file sales contracts and amendments with the Regulator upon request, which are treated as tariffs for regulatory purposes.

Compliance

All permits and certificates issued under the Canadian Energy Regulator Act must comply with the Act, its regulations, and applicable federal and provincial orders made under this Act or provincial laws. Non-compliance constitutes a violation of permit and certificate terms.

Suspension of certificates

The Canadian Energy Regulator Commission may suspend energy certificates by order if the certificate holder requests suspension, consents to it, or breaches certificate conditions. Before suspending for non-compliance, the Commission must provide written notice and opportunity for the holder to respond.

Regulations — Governor in Council

Section 372 of the Canadian Energy Regulator Act authorizes the Governor in Council to establish regulations governing the export licensing, movement, and inspection of designated oil and gas from Canada. The Regulator may prescribe license application requirements, validity periods, export quantities, inspection standards for related equipment and records, and measurement units for oil and gas transportation.

Mandate

The Canadian Energy Regulator's mandate encompasses making transparent decisions and orders on pipelines, power lines, and offshore renewable energy projects; overseeing their construction, operation, and abandonment; setting traffic, tolls, and tariffs; managing oil and gas interests; providing advisory services and dispute resolution; and exercising authority while respecting Indigenous peoples' rights.

Radiation Protection Programs for Nuclear Substances and Radiation Devices Licences

Show cause hearing relating to waste

Under the Canadian Energy Regulator Act, the Commission holds show cause hearings on applications by the Chief Conservation Officer regarding waste in oil and gas pool recovery. If waste is found, the Commission may order gas collection, processing, reinjection schemes, or pool repressurizing/recycling, and may shut in non-compliant pools unless approved schemes are operational by specified dates.

Enforcement of orders

Canadian Energy Regulator decisions and orders may be registered with Federal or provincial superior courts and enforced as court orders by filing a certified copy with the court registrar. If a registered decision is subsequently rescinded or varied, the court order is vacated and the modified decision may be re-registered following standard court procedures.

Orphan abandoned pipelines

Under the Canadian Energy Regulator Act, a designated officer may designate an abandoned pipeline as an orphan abandoned pipeline when the owning company's directors, officers, or the company itself cannot be located, or when the company is unknown, insolvent, bankrupt, in receivership, or dissolved.

Measures

Section 245 of the Canadian Energy Regulator Act authorizes designated officers to take necessary measures for orphan pipeline abandonment and to delegate authority to employees or third parties. The Regulator, its staff, Crown agents, and authorized third parties are granted liability protection for good-faith actions or omissions during abandonment activities.

If pipeline affixed to any real property or immovables

Section 224 of the Canadian Energy Regulator Act establishes that pipeline sections affixed to real property, utilities, or navigable waters remain the exclusive property of the pipeline company and do not become part of underlying property without written consent and Regulator notice. Pipeline companies retain rights to create liens, mortgages, charges, and security interests on affixed sections under specified regulatory circumstances.

Determining compensation

Section 169 of the Canadian Energy Regulator Act establishes the Tribunal's procedure for determining compensation when amending a decision on reconsideration. The Tribunal must decide whether to award compensation for compensable damage claimed, calculate amounts per regulations accounting for prior payments, and may award authorized costs. Written notice must specify compensation awarded, cost determinations, regulatory reductions, and previously paid amounts.

Notice of non-compliance

Section 108 of the Canadian Energy Regulator Act authorizes inspection officers to issue written notices of non-compliance when they have reasonable grounds to believe a person has violated the Act or its regulations. Notices must identify the recipient, describe the alleged violation with relevant facts and applicable provisions, and provide a defined period for the recipient to submit comments in response.

Effect of appeal

An appeal of a Canadian Energy Regulator order does not automatically suspend enforcement, but the Commission may exercise discretion to grant a stay of the order pending the appeal's outcome.

Effects on navigation

The Canadian Energy Regulator must consider effects on navigation safety, including navigation safety itself, when deciding whether to issue certificates, permits, approvals, orders, directions, or exemptions for international or interprovincial power lines that cross navigable waters.

Construction — facility

Under Canadian Energy Regulator Act section 272, persons constructing international or interprovincial power lines crossing facilities must obtain a CER permit or certificate with facility-related conditions, secure Commission leave, or meet regulatory circumstances. The Commission may impose conditions and grant retroactive leave if work was urgent and prior notice was given.

Revocation of certificates — contravention

The Canadian Energy Regulator may revoke certificates issued under the Act if the holder breaches any condition, provided written notice of the alleged breach is issued and the holder is given an opportunity to respond before revocation.

Commission of violation

Under Canadian Energy Regulator Act section 117, any person who contravenes or fails to comply with designated provisions, orders, decisions, or conditions commits a violation subject to penalties determined by regulation. Penalties are designed to promote compliance rather than punish.

Definitions

Section 296 of the Canadian Energy Regulator Act establishes definitions for Part 2, defining 'authorization' as permission issued under section 298 and 'debris' as facilities, equipment, or systems placed during authorized work that were abandoned without authorization or displaced during operations. Provincial references in Part 2 apply to onshore areas of the Northwest Territories as defined in the Northwest Territories Act.

Powers of company

Section 313 of the Canadian Energy Regulator Act grants pipeline companies authority to survey land, acquire property, construct pipelines across public and private holdings, interconnect with other infrastructure, erect supporting structures, and transport hydrocarbons and other commodities, subject to regulatory approval and applicable legislation.

Orders

The Canadian Energy Regulator may issue orders requiring facility holders to repair, reconstruct, or alter regulated facilities to ensure safety, security, and environmental protection. Orders can be directed at Indigenous bodies, governments, third parties, and others. Non-compliance authorizes the Regulator to take direct action or engage third parties, with liability protection for good-faith interventions.

Regulations

Section 96 of the Canadian Energy Regulator Act authorizes the Regulator to establish regulations governing the design, construction, operation, and abandonment of interprovincial and international pipelines and designated power lines. Regulations must address surveillance, monitoring, safety, security, and environmental protection, and require operators to maintain management systems that incorporate human and organizational factors.

Offence and punishment — duty to assist and orders

Section 112 of the Canadian Energy Regulator Act establishes criminal penalties for non-compliance with CER duties and orders. Violations of section 103(4) or failure to comply with section 109 orders result in fines up to $1,000,000 and/or five years imprisonment on indictment, or up to $100,000 and/or one year on summary conviction. Contraventions of sections 106 and 107 carry summary conviction fines of up to $100,000 for first offences and up to $300,000 for subsequent offences.

Definitions

Section 373 of the Canadian Energy Regulator Act defines key terms for the division governing energy exports, including references to free trade agreements (CCFTA, CCRFTA, CUSMA) and defines 'energy goods' as commodities requiring a licence, permit, or regulatory order for exportation under this Part.

Statutory Instruments Act

Orders issued by the Canadian Energy Regulator Commission under this Part are explicitly excluded from the definition of statutory instruments under the Statutory Instruments Act, clarifying the regulatory status of CER orders.

Application Guide: Certification of Radiation Devices or Class II Prescribed Equipment, Version 1.1

Orders of Commission

The Canadian Energy Regulator may issue orders determining compensation for pipeline and abandoned pipeline projects, including land acquisition, leasing, use restrictions, and damages from company activities during planning, construction, operation, or abandonment phases, with compensation assessments guided by statutory factors.

Reasons

The Canadian Energy Regulator and its designated officers must issue written reasons for all decisions and orders, which must be made publicly available except for decisions concerning only internal administrative matters.