By: Amy Matychuk

PDF Version: The Alberta Energy Regulator Grants Rare Participation Rights to Three Indigenous Groups

Decision Commented On: The Alberta Energy Regulator decision on participation in the hearing of Prosper Petroleum Ltd.’s Rigel Project, March 16 2017

On March 16, 2017, the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) held that three indigenous communities were directly and adversely affected by the Prosper Petroleum Rigel Oil Sands Project and granted these groups participation rights in the hearing on Prosper’s project application.

The AER has been publishing its participation and procedural decisions since September 2015. Since then, there have been 42 decisions dealing with claims by First Nations or Métis communities that they are directly and adversely affected by a proposed project. The AER has denied every claim until now. This decision only gives the three indigenous communities the right to participate in the hearing where the AER will decide whether to green light Prosper’s applications. It does not ensure that their lands or traditional activities will actually be protected, only that they will have the opportunity to explain how the project will affect them. However, given the pattern of decisions since 2015, this is a significant development. Continue reading →

By: Kirk N. Lambrecht Q.C.

PDF Version: The Alberta Utilities Commission Rules on Its Jurisdiction to Assess Crown Aboriginal Consultation

Decisions Commented On:

• AUC Ruling on jurisdiction to determine Questions stated in Notices of Questions of Constitutional Law, October 7, 2016, and Sent to Parties Currently Registered in Proceeding 21030 Fort McMurray West 500-kV Transmission Project Proceeding 21030 Applications 21030-A001 to 21030-A015 (Appendix J); and

• AUC Decision 21030-D02-2017, Alberta PowerLine General Partner Ltd. Fort McMurray West 500-Kilovolt Transmission Project, February 10, 2017

Introduction

This post offers critical analysis of the first Ruling of the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) to grapple with the issue of whether the AUC has jurisdiction to consider the adequacy of Crown Aboriginal consultation in the course of AUC proceedings (the Preliminary AUC Ruling). The Preliminary AUC Ruling was issued on October 7, 2016. It was followed on February 10, 2017, with a ruling on the merits of the Application (the AUC Ruling on the Merits). Both are discussed here. The Preliminary AUC Ruling is attached as Appendix J to the AUC Ruling on the Merits.

The AUC is a quasi-judicial regulatory tribunal with power to determine all questions of law and constitutional law which arise in the course of its regulatory functions. It exercises a final approval function in relation to the construction of the Fort McMurray West 500-kV transmission line Project. The Project is generally described here. Appendix A to the current Alberta policy on Aboriginal consultation suggests that large-scale regional transmission line projects have high impact and require extensive consultation (see The Government of Alberta’s Guidelines on Consultation with First Nations on Land and Natural Resource Management, July 28, 2014). A deep consultation requirement of this kind is consistent with the description of the Project as critical in nature. It is also consistent with the finding of the AUC, described below, that the Project would introduce industrial development which would adversely impact Aboriginal groups in way which is not easily mitigated.

The AUC has not been at the center of Alberta’s policy development in relation to Aboriginal consultation. That development has tended to focus on the Alberta Energy Regulator, rather than the AUC. In this proceeding, absent guidance from Provincial policy, the AUC concluded that it had no jurisdiction in relation to Crown consultation and accommodation. Continue reading →