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Replacement of commissioner during hearing

Procedural rule under the Canadian Energy Regulator Act allowing the Lead Commissioner to designate a replacement commissioner to continue hearings or render decisions if the assigned commissioner becomes unable to act or resigns during proceedings or between hearing conclusion and decision issuance.

Alternative dispute resolution

The Canadian Energy Regulator must provide alternative dispute resolution processes for disputes under the Act when all parties consent. Results are non-binding but may be considered by the Commission or designated officers in their decisions and may be made public with party consent.

Acting Lead Commissioner

The Deputy Lead Commissioner of the Canadian Energy Regulator may assume the Lead Commissioner role during absence, incapacity, or vacancy, but cannot act for more than 90 days without Governor in Council approval.

Authorization — powers, duties and functions

The Lead Commissioner of the Canadian Energy Regulator may delegate regulatory powers, duties, and functions to commissioners, either jointly or individually, except for procedural, appellate, investigative, enforcement, and review matters under specified sections. Actions taken under delegation are deemed performed by the Commission itself.

Replacement of panel member during hearing

Section 48 of the Canadian Energy Regulator Act establishes procedures for replacing panel commissioners during hearings. If a commissioner becomes unavailable or resigns during a hearing, the Lead Commissioner may appoint a replacement to continue the hearing and participate in the decision. If unavailability occurs after the hearing concludes but before the decision is finalized, remaining commissioners may proceed unanimously to make the decision without replacement.

Confidentiality

The Canadian Energy Regulator or a designated officer may take enforcement measures and issue orders to ensure compliance with confidentiality and information disclosure obligations under section 58 and related regulations.

Confidentiality

Section 61 of the Canadian Energy Regulator Act authorizes the Commission and designated officers to issue confidentiality orders protecting sensitive information from public disclosure when disclosure poses a real and substantial risk to pipeline, power line, or offshore renewable energy infrastructure security, protective systems, or public safety.

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.

General or particular application

The Canadian Energy Regulator or a designated officer may issue orders, directions, and impose conditions either generally across all regulated entities or specifically for particular cases or classes of cases, enabling flexible regulatory application.

Coming into force and cessation of effect — Commission

Section 67 of the Canadian Energy Regulator Act empowers the Commission, designated officers, and inspection officers to specify effective and cessation dates for authorization documents and orders, or impose conditions controlling their timing. Interim orders may be issued with decisions reserved, except for Part 3 certificates.

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.

Authority to enter

Section 103 of the Canadian Energy Regulator Act authorizes inspection officers to enter non-dwelling facilities without warrant to verify compliance with energy regulations. Officers may examine equipment, access computer systems, conduct tests and sampling, take photographs, remove items for analysis, and direct operational changes. Property owners must provide reasonable assistance and access to documents and information.

Regulations imposing fees, etc.

Section 142 of the Canadian Energy Regulator Act authorizes the regulator to impose fees, levies, and charges on pipeline operators to recover government costs from commodity release incidents. Primary liability falls on the responsible operator; if recovery is insufficient, fees extend to other operators transporting the same or similar commodities. Regulations prescribe fee calculation methods and interest rates on unpaid amounts, which become recoverable debts to the Crown.

Power to review, vary or rescind — Commission

Section 69 of the Canadian Energy Regulator Act empowers the Commission and designated/inspection officers to review, vary, rescind decisions and orders, and re-hear applications. This authority excludes operating licences, authorizations under sections 382–383, and development plan approvals under the Canada Oil and Gas Operations Act.

Grounds for making order

Section 109 of the Canadian Energy Regulator Act authorizes inspection officers to issue orders directing persons to cease contraventions, implement compliance measures, or prevent hazards to safety, security, property, or the environment. Orders may suspend facility operations until remediation is complete, with mandatory written notice and reporting to the Commission.

Reimbursement — measures taken by government institution

The Canadian Energy Regulator Commission may order pipeline operators to reimburse federal, provincial, municipal governments, Indigenous bodies, and other persons for reasonable costs incurred responding to unintended or uncontrolled releases of oil, gas, or other commodities from pipelines, even if costs exceed the operator's statutory liability limits.

Design of Uranium Mines and Mills: Ventilation Systems, Version 1.1

Power lines not works

International and interprovincial power lines subject to Canadian Energy Regulator orders are excluded from the definition of 'work' under the Canadian Navigable Waters Act, removing them from that Act's regulatory jurisdiction.

Where certificate required

Under Canadian Energy Regulator Act section 258, the Governor in Council may designate international power lines by order to require certificate-based regulation instead of permits. Any existing permit must be revoked within 45 days of permit issuance. Once designated, no new permits may be issued and all applications must be processed as certificate applications.

Offence and punishment

Section 311 of the Canadian Energy Regulator Act establishes criminal penalties for contravening authorization conditions, orders, or regulations. Indictment convictions carry fines up to $1 million and/or up to five years imprisonment; summary convictions carry fines up to $100,000 and/or up to one year imprisonment.

Confidentiality — Indigenous knowledge

Section 58 of the Canadian Energy Regulator Act protects the confidentiality of Indigenous knowledge shared with the Regulator. Disclosure without written consent is prohibited, except when the knowledge is publicly available, necessary for procedural fairness in legal proceedings (with mandatory prior consultation), or authorized by regulation. The Regulator may impose conditions on disclosure and has immunity from liability for good-faith disclosures.

Relocation

The Canadian Energy Regulator may order pipeline companies to relocate pipelines when necessary for safety, environmental protection, public infrastructure projects, or to prevent interference with drainage systems. The regulator determines cost allocation among parties, ensures procedural compliance with prior consultation requirements, and may award reasonable costs to regulatory proceeding participants.

Decisions final

Section 70 of the Canadian Energy Regulator Act establishes that decisions and orders issued by the Commission, designated officers, and inspection officers are final and conclusive, with no further appeal unless explicitly provided elsewhere in the Act.

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.

Financial Guarantees for Decommissioning of Nuclear Facilities and Termination of Licensed Activities

Regulations

Canadian Energy Regulator Act section 353 empowers the Governor in Council to make regulations governing oil and gas exports, including licence quantities, validity periods (up to 40 years for natural gas, 25 years for oil), inspection requirements, price controls, and exemptions for exports to Chile and Costa Rica.

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.

Variation or transfer of certificates

The Canadian Energy Regulator Commission may vary or transfer energy certificates issued under the Act on its own initiative or upon application. The Minister may direct the Commission to recommend variations or transfers to the Governor in Council if deemed in the public interest. The Commission may impose conditions necessary to fulfill the Act's purposes when varying or transferring certificates.

Information Dissemination: Licensing Process for Class I Nuclear Facilities and Uranium Mines and Mills, Version 2.1

Issuance

Section 262 of the Canadian Energy Regulator Act governs certification of international and interprovincial power lines. The Commission may issue certificates if satisfied the power line serves present and future public convenience and necessity, considering environmental effects, safety, Indigenous rights and consultation, health and socioeconomic impacts, and climate commitments. Decisions must be made within 300 days of a complete application, subject to Governor in Council approval within 90 days.

Definition of certified document

Section 89 of the Canadian Energy Regulator Act establishes that documents certified by authorized CER employees and sealed with the regulator's seal are admissible as evidence in legal proceedings without requiring proof of the certifier's signature or official status. Certified copies of decisions, orders, authorizations, and other regulatory documents are accepted as evidence of the originals and the facts they contain.

Personnel Certification: Radiation Safety Officers

Reporting Requirements, Volume I: Non-Power Reactor Class I Facilities and Uranium Mines and Mills, Version 1.1

Conduct of Licensed Activities: Construction and Commissioning Programs

Licence Application Guide: Class II Nuclear Facilities and Prescribed Equipment, Version 1.1

Duty to consider — Commission

The Canadian Energy Regulator and its designated officers must consider potential adverse effects on Indigenous rights recognized under section 35 of the Canadian Constitution when making decisions, orders, or recommendations under the Canadian Energy Regulator Act.

Pre-licensing Review of a Vendor’s Reactor Design

Offence and punishment

Section 99 of the Canadian Energy Regulator Act establishes criminal penalties for violating CER orders or regulations. Penalties include fines up to CAD 1 million and/or five years imprisonment on indictment, or CAD 100,000 and/or one year on summary conviction.

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.

Appeal to Federal Court of Appeal

Section 72 of the Canadian Energy Regulator Act establishes the procedure for appealing Commission decisions to the Federal Court of Appeal on questions of law or jurisdiction. Applications for leave to appeal must be filed within 30 days of the decision, extendable only in exceptional circumstances, and appeals must be brought within 60 days of leave approval. Impact assessment reports are excluded from appealable decisions, and commissioners cannot be awarded costs in appeals.

Regulations — compensation

Section 173 of the Canadian Energy Regulator Act authorizes the Governor in Council to establish regulations governing compensation for energy infrastructure incidents. Regulations may prescribe claim deadlines, authorize interim awards and fee/expense coverage, establish damage priority classes, set compensation caps, allow payment postponement or scheduling, and provide interest provisions. Environmental non-use value damages are explicitly excluded from compensable losses.

Powers

The Canadian Energy Regulator Tribunal possesses the powers of a superior court within its jurisdiction, including authority to compel witness attendance, administer oaths, examine witnesses, demand document production, and enforce orders. The Tribunal is not bound by formal rules of evidence but must respect legal privileges recognized under evidence law.

Role of Chief Executive Officer

Section 23 of the Canadian Energy Regulator Act establishes the Chief Executive Officer's responsibilities for managing the regulator's day-to-day operations and supervising employees, while explicitly prohibiting direction of specific Commission decisions. The CEO holds deputy head rank with corresponding departmental powers, and interim executives may serve up to 90 days pending Governor in Council approval.

Site Evaluation and Site Preparation for New Reactor Facilities, Version 1.3

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.

Variation of sanctions

Under Canadian Energy Regulator Act section 176, courts may vary sanctions orders against offenders upon application if circumstances have changed. Courts can modify prohibitions, directions, requirements, or conditions; extend enforcement duration up to one year; reduce duration; or partially or fully relieve compliance obligations after hearing the offender, regulator, and interested parties.

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.

Recovery of fines and amounts

Section 178 of the Canadian Energy Regulator Act allows prosecutors to enforce unpaid fines or court-ordered compensation by filing convictions or orders as civil judgments in any Canadian court, enabling collection through standard civil enforcement procedures.

Orders

The Canadian Energy Regulator Commission may exempt pipelines up to 40 km long, previously constructed pipelines, and associated infrastructure (tanks, compressors, storage facilities) from specified regulatory provisions. Exemption applications must be decided within 300 days of complete submission; the Lead Commissioner may exclude certain periods with public disclosure, and the Minister may grant extensions. The Commission may impose conditions on exemptions.

Crown lands

Pipeline companies must obtain Governor in Council consent to take possession of, use, or occupy Crown lands in Canada. With consent, companies may appropriate necessary Crown lands and water for pipeline construction and operation. Compensation for lands held in trust must be applied to the trust's purpose. Exemptions apply for pipelines with prior authorizations and those crossing utilities or navigable waters with proper certificates.