Category: Administrative Law Page 1 of 38

Decisions Commented On: AER News Release 2025-01-17

PDF Version: AER Decides to Prosecute Imperial Oil for the 2023 Kearl Oilsands Berm Overflow

On January 17, 2025, the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) announced they were laying nine charges against Imperial Oil Resources Limited (Imperial Oil) related to a berm overflow that occurred in February 2023. Unlike the previous AER regulatory penalties for Imperial Oil in August 2024, this means Imperial Oil faces a prosecution before the Alberta Court of Justice, bringing a different procedure and set of potential penalties than AER enforcement using the administrative penalty mechanism.

The AER’s Proposed Amendments to Closure Liability Management Directives: Much Ado about Not Much

By Drew Yewchuk

On November 4, 2024

In Administrative Law, Energy, Oil & Gas

By: Drew Yewchuk and Shaun Fluker

Matter Commented On: Bulletin 2024-25, Invitation for Feedback on Revised Liability Directives

PDF Version: The AER’s Proposed Amendments to Closure Liability Management Directives: Much Ado about Not Much

On 8 October 2024, the AER issued Bulletin 2024-25, Invitation for Feedback on Revised Liability Directives, announcing the AER is taking public comments on a proposal to restructure AER directives relating to the closure liability management framework. The AER’s description of the changes, and a video presentation describing the changes, are here. At a high level:

Four directives are being amended: Directive 001: Requirements for Site-Specific Liability Assessments; Directive 011: Estimated Liability (previously Licensee Liability Rating (LLR) Program: Updated Industry Parameters and Liability Costs); Directive 068: Security Deposits; Directive 088: Licensee Life-Cycle Management.
Three directives are being rescinded as their contents are either being reorganized into the four amended directives or are no longer necessary: Directive 006: Licensee Liability Rating (LLR) Program; Directive 024: Large Facility Liability Management Program; Directive 075: Oilfield Waste Liability (OWL) Program.

UCP Grievance Politics Takes Aim at the Law Society of Alberta

By Shaun Fluker

On November 1, 2024

In Administrative Law

By: Shaun Fluker

Matter commented on: Review of Professional Regulators, October 23, 2024

PDF Version: UCP Grievance Politics Takes Aim at the Law Society of Alberta

On October 23, 2024, the UCP government announced it was spending public money to find a solution to a problem that does not exist: aka the Review of Professional Regulators. This exercise of grievance politics includes within its scope the Law Society of Alberta, and as a member of the law society, I received an email invitation to take the government’s survey. This post discloses my answers to the survey.

The Replacement Ministerial Directive on Well Transfers and Outstanding Municipal Taxes

By Drew Yewchuk

On October 9, 2024

In Administrative Law, Oil & Gas

By: Drew Yewchuk

Matter Commented On: Minister of Energy and Minerals, Ministerial Order 096/2024, Direction on Municipal Tax Requirements for Approving Licences

PDF Version: The Replacement Ministerial Directive on Well Transfers and Outstanding Municipal Taxes

On August 26, 2024, Minister of Energy and Minerals Brian Jean signed Ministerial Order 096/2024 (M.O. 096/2024), a direction to the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) pursuant to section 67 of the Responsible Energy Development Act, SA 2012, c R-17.3 (REDA). M.O. 096/2024 replaces a previous ministerial order from March 2023, with the most significant change being that the AER is now enabled to approve transfers of oil and gas licenses out of the inventories of bankrupt companies so long as the transferee owes less than $20,000 in municipal taxes.

Court of Appeal Grants Permission to Appeal Another AER Coal Decision

By Nigel Bankes

On October 8, 2024

In Administrative Law, Energy

By: Nigel Bankes

Decision Commented On: Ranchland (Municipal District No 66) v Alberta Energy Regulator, 2024 ABCA 309 (CanLII)

PDF Version: Court of Appeal Grants Permission to Appeal Another AER Coal Decision

While my recent coal posts (e.g. here and here) have focused on the efforts of Benga/Northback to resurrect (literally bring back from the dead) its Grassy Mountain Project, it is important to acknowledge that the coal policy decisions (the “flip/flop”) of the Kenney and Smith governments have triggered other litigation. Some of that litigation involves claims to compensation for alleged regulatory takings or constructive expropriation (see Cabin Ridge Project Limited v Alberta, 2024 ABKB 189 (CanLII)) but the case that is the subject of this post deals with other issues – reclamation and opaque AER decision-making.