Category Archives: Energy

Duty to Consult in the Bigstone Pipeline Case: A Northern Gateway Sequel and TMX Prequel?

By: David. V Wright

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Case commented on: Bigstone Cree Nation v. Nova Gas Transmission Ltd., 2018 FCA 89

While all eyes are on the Trans Mountain Expansion (TMX) pipeline saga, especially the political spats and constitutional law dimensions (clear as much of that law may be), the Federal Court of Appeal (FCA) released a decision in early May that is directly on-point with respect to legal challenges brought by Indigenous groups against the TMX project approval (consolidated by the FCA into one case). Bigstone Cree Nation v. Nova Gas Transmission Ltd. engages the same legislative scheme as the court challenges against the Northern Gateway Project (NGP), which was decided by the Court in Gitxaala Nation v. Canada, 2016 FCA 187, and at issue in TMX – i.e. the post-2012 integrated NEB Act – CEAA 2012 review and approval regime. This post has two parts. In the first part, I focus on a few notable points of law that the FCA reiterated in Bigstone. In the second part, I move on to discuss how this appears to be an important duty to consult trilogy in the making, with this latest case providing hints toward the FCA upholding the TMX Order in Council (OIC) and Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN or certificate). The FCA’s TMX decision is due out soon.

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Bills C-68 and C-69 and the Consideration of Sex, Gender and Other Identity Factors

By: Jennifer Koshan

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Legislation Commented On: An Act to amend the Fisheries Act and other Acts in consequence (Bill C-68) and An Act to enact the Impact Assessment Act and the Canadian Energy Regulator Act, to amend the Navigation Protection Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts (Bill C-69)

Over the past couple of months, several of my colleagues have posted comments on Bill C-68 and Bill C-69 (see here). My focus in this post is on one section that is common to Bills C-68 and C-69, which provides that when making a decision under the relevant Act, the decision-maker may or indeed must consider, among other things, “the intersection of sex and gender with other identity factors” (see proposed section 2.5(i) of the Fisheries Act (“may”), section 22(1)(s) of the proposed Impact Assessment Act (“must”), and sections 183(2)(c), 262(2)(c) and 298(3)(c) of the proposed Canadian Energy Regulator Act (“must”)). The preamble of Bill C-69 also states that “the Government of Canada is committed to assessing how groups of women, men and gender-diverse people may experience policies, programs and projects and to taking actions that contribute to an inclusive and democratic society and allow all Canadians to participate fully in all spheres of their lives.”

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Alberta Energy Regulator Breaks New Ground on Offsetting of Caribou Habitat

By: Dave Poulton

PDF Version: Alberta Energy Regulator Breaks New Ground on Offsetting of Caribou Habitat

Decision Commented On: TransCanada Pipelines Limited, Applications for the White Spruce Pipeline Project, Fort MacKay Area, February 22, 2018, 2018 ABAER 001

On February 22 the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) released a decision that could advance Alberta’s seemingly endless discussions on caribou conservation and on conservation offsets. By requiring TransCanada Pipelines Limited (TCPL) to offset the disturbance of habitat in caribou range caused by the construction of 2 new oil pipelines, the AER may have signalled its willingness to show leadership on these files. Continue reading →

Applications for Party Status in a Permission to Appeal Application

By: Nigel Bankes

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Bill Commented On: Balancing Pool v ENMAX Energy Corporation, 2018 ABCA 143 (CanLII)

This decision deals with applications by two parties (the Balancing Pool and TransAlta) to be accorded party status (or, failing that, intervenor status) in permission to appeal applications launched by TransCanada Energy, ENMAX and Capital Power relating to one aspect of the long-running line loss proceedings before the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC). Justice Paperny’s decision on these preliminary matters merits reporting on ABlawg for two reasons. First, it provides an example of a Court taking the unusual step of granting party status in relation to that most preliminary of applications, a permission to appeal application (rather than at the subsequent stage where leave has been granted). Second, it provides an opportunity to update the status of the line loss file (AUC Proceeding 790). Continue reading →

Regulated Tolls in the Competitive Environment of Northeast British Columbia: NEB Issues Directions to NGTL and Westcoast

By: Nigel Bankes

PDF Version: Regulated Tolls in the Competitive Environment of Northeast British Columbia: NEB Issues Directions to NGTL and Westcoast

Decision Commented On: National Energy Board Examination to Determine Whether to Undertake an Inquiry of the Tolling Methodologies, Tariff Provisions and Competition in Northeast British Columbia: Examination Decision, March 8, 2018

As noted in a post this time last year, the chair of the National Energy Board (NEB, the Board) decided to appoint a single Board member, Lyn Mercier, to conduct an examination to determine whether to conduct an Inquiry into the Tolling Methodologies, Tariff Provisions and Competition in Northeast British Columbia. Ms. Mercier submitted her Report to the Board on February 22, 2018 and the Board has now released its “Examination Decision” under the signature of the Board’s secretary.

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