On August 3, 2023 the Alberta Utilities Commission (“AUC”), the regulatory body responsible for approving power projects in Alberta, announced a pause on all approvals of power plants and hydro-electric developments that produced greater than one megawatt of renewable electricity. The Alberta government stated that the pause was needed to ensure an affordable and ...
The business of cryptocurrency mining continues to be a hot topic of interest in the Alberta regulatory arena. While the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) retains primary jurisdiction over bitcoin mining and the construction and operation of power plants in the province, the Alberta Energy Regulator has recently published Bulletin 2022-12, requesting information ...
While the term “bitcoin” is a hot topic in Alberta in recent weeks, the physical operations, infrastructure and approvals required to operate a large-scale cryptocurrency operation is unknown to many. Cryptocurrency mining operations require large powerful processors that are used by miners to process and confirm the transaction of digital assets. Imagine a large ...
On June 15, 2021, a new amendment to Rule 016 governing review of Alberta Utilities Commission (‘AUC’ or the ‘Commission’) decisions will take effect. The rationale for the change is described in AUC Bulletin 2021-11 (dated May 6, 2021). Rule 016 sets out the criteria and process through which the Commission’s decisions may be reviewed or varied on ...
What is undoubtedly an early holiday gift for administrative law practitioners, the Supreme Court of Canada has revealed a new framework for dealing with the standard of review in administrative law cases. The court has overruled previously standing precedence across the country in order to bring greater cohesion to this area of law by enshrining a reasonableness test ...
Bill C-69 received Royal Assent on June 21, 2019 but did not come into force at that time. The Governor in Council has now ordered that the federal Impact Assessment Act (“IAA”) and the Canadian Energy Regulator Act (“CERA”) will come into force on August 28, 2019, concurrent with the repeal of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 and the National Energy Board Act. Most of the amendments to the Navigation Protection Act (now to be called the Canadian Navigable Waters Act) will also come into force on August 28, 2019.
As a result, the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency will transition to the Impact Assessment Agency, and the National Energy Board will transition to the Canadian Energy Regulator.
Certain related regulations will also come into effect on August 28, 2019, including the Physical Activities Regulations (the new Project List) and the Information and Management of Time Limits Regulations, both under the Impact Assessment Act. These regulations are scheduled to be published in the Canada Gazette, Part II on August 21, 2019, but in the meantime unofficial copies may be found at the following links:
- Physical Activities Regulations (unofficial)
- Information and Management of Time Limits Regulations (unofficial)
Stay tuned or subscribe to our Project Law Blog for more information on the regulations and the implementation of these changes.
Introduction
On July 26, 2019, the National Energy Board (the “NEB” or the “Board”) released its decision concluding that it does not have jurisdiction over the Coastal GasLink Pipeline (“CGL Pipeline”) in British Columbia. The decision is based on a constitutional analysis of the division of powers between the federal and provincial governments, which, in ...
On June 21, 2019 Bill C-69 received Royal Assent. However the federal Impact Assessment Act (“IAA”), which will replace the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012, is not yet in force. It will be brought into force on a date to be set by order of the Governor in Council. Similarly, a replacement of British Columbia’s Environmental Assessment Act (“BC EAA” ...
Bill C-69, which includes the proposed Impact Assessment Act (the “Act”) is currently in the second reading of the Senate. In February, 2018, the Government of Canada released the Consultation Paper on Information Requirements and Time Management Regulations and sought comments from the public on the proposed components of the Regulations. Based on the comments and ...
While the proposed Impact Assessment Act (the “IAA”) in Bill C-69 is under review and possible amendment by the Senate, the federal government is seeking public comments this month on a new Discussion Paper on the proposed Project List regulation. The Project List sets out criteria that, if met, make a project subject to the federal assessment process. This post ...
About Us
Lawson Lundell's Environmental, Indigenous and Natural Resources Blog focuses on environmental, indigenous and natural resources law, as well as related litigation. Included are summaries of significant cases from Canadian appellate courts, changes in the legal framework governing resource development including energy and climate change policy, and key decisions from the more influential regulatory bodies in Canada.
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