Browse 16,737 regulations from 36 regulators

Design of Reactor Facilities, Version 2.1

Application Guide: Certification of Radiation Devices or Class II Prescribed Equipment, Version 1.1

Safety Analysis for Class IB Nuclear Facilities

Definition of document of authorization

Section 9 of the Canadian Energy Regulator Act defines 'document of authorization' as regulatory instruments issued by the CER, including certificates, permits, authorizations, licenses, and orders that establish the legal framework for energy infrastructure regulation in Canada.

Voluntary reporting

The Canadian Energy Regulator may establish voluntary reporting systems for alleged non-compliance with the Canadian Energy Regulator Act, subject to Governor in Council approval. Regulations may protect reporter identity, making identity-revealing information privileged and inadmissible in legal or disciplinary proceedings. Reports from protected systems cannot be used against the reporter.

Decision by Governor in Council

Section 186 of the Canadian Energy Regulator Act grants the Governor in Council authority to issue binding orders on pipeline certificate applications following CER recommendations. The Governor may approve certificates with conditions, dismiss applications, or refer recommendations for reconsideration. Orders must include written reasons demonstrating consideration of relevant factors and be issued within 90 days (extendable). Orders are final, must be published in the Canada Gazette within 15 days, and the CER must comply within seven days.

Relief

The Canadian Energy Regulator Commission may grant applications wholly or partially and may impose additional or alternative relief beyond what was requested. This discretionary authority does not apply to certificate applications under Part 3 of the Act.

Form of compensation payment if land taken

Under Canadian Energy Regulator Act section 329, when a company takes or leases land, the Regulator must direct compensation payment at the landowner's option as either a lump sum or periodic payments. Interest may be awarded at the prime business loan rate from the date of land entry or when damages first occurred.

Regulations

Section 333 of the Canadian Energy Regulator Act grants the Regulator authority to establish regulations governing land acquisition, leasing, expropriation, and compensation for energy projects. The regulations may address compensation procedures, notice service requirements, acquisition processes, agreement terms, approval criteria, and filing of voluntary landowner agreements.

Statutory Instruments Act

Section 92 of the Canadian Energy Regulator Act exempts orders and directions issued by the Commission, designated officers, or inspection officers from statutory instrument classification when they apply to a single person or entity, a single regulated facility, or are issued immediately for safety, security, environmental protection, or property protection purposes.

Exemption orders

The Canadian Energy Regulator Commission may issue conditional exemption orders relieving regulated facility holders from specific regulatory provisions when necessary to ensure safety and security of persons and facilities, protect property, or safeguard the environment.

Designation of inspection officers

The Canadian Energy Regulator's CEO may designate inspection officers to enforce safety, security, environmental, and property protection regulations at regulated and abandoned energy facilities. All designated officers must be provided with a certificate of authority and must produce it upon request.

Assets of company subject to executions

Section 341 of the Canadian Energy Regulator Act clarifies that the Act does not restrict financial or legal transactions involving company assets, including court-ordered asset sales, creation of liens, mortgages, and enforcement of security interests. Such transactions remain subject to applicable provincial laws where the property is located.

Effect of appeal

An appeal of a Canadian Energy Regulator order does not automatically suspend enforcement, but the Commission may exercise discretion to grant a stay of the order pending the appeal's outcome.

Definitions

Section 113 of the Canadian Energy Regulator Act establishes legal privilege protection for voice and video recordings of operating personnel at regulated energy facilities. Recordings are privileged and non-disclosable except when requested by the Regulator for accident inquiries, by coroners for investigations, or when courts determine public interest in justice outweighs privilege. Recordings cannot be used in disciplinary proceedings against facility operators or employees.

Commission of violation

Under Canadian Energy Regulator Act section 117, any person who contravenes or fails to comply with designated provisions, orders, decisions, or conditions commits a violation subject to penalties determined by regulation. Penalties are designed to promote compliance rather than punish.

Recovery of loss, damage, costs, expenses

Section 137 of the Canadian Energy Regulator Act imposes joint and several liability on pipeline operators and contractors for unintended or uncontrolled releases of oil, gas, or other commodities. Liable parties must cover actual losses, response costs, and loss of non-use value. Liability is capped at $1 billion for major pipelines (≥250,000 barrels/day capacity); smaller pipelines face prescribed regulatory amounts. Claims recover in Canadian courts with priority ranking favoring actual loss over cost recovery, which ranks above non-use value claims.

Establishment of Tribunal

Section 143 of the Canadian Energy Regulator Act authorizes the Governor in Council to establish a pipeline claims tribunal to examine and adjudicate compensation claims arising from pipeline releases. The tribunal may only be established if deemed in the public interest based on extent of damage, estimated costs, and administrative advantages. The tribunal must operate equitably without discrimination based on nationality or residence.

Interim award of compensation

Under the Canadian Energy Regulator Act, a Tribunal may award interim compensation for compensation claims if authorized by regulations, and must notify the Regulator of the awarded amount.

Determining compensation

Under Canadian Energy Regulator Act section 163, a Tribunal determines whether to award compensation for claimed compensable damage, calculates amounts per regulations, and may award costs if authorized. The Tribunal must notify all parties of its decision, specifying compensation and cost amounts, any regulatory reductions, and previously paid amounts.

Limitations

Section 181 of the Canadian Energy Regulator Act requires pipeline companies to obtain prior written Commission approval before selling, transferring, leasing, purchasing, acquiring, or amalgamating pipelines or abandoned pipelines.

Continuation of jurisdiction and obligation

Section 189 of the Canadian Energy Regulator Act clarifies that procedural delays do not strip the Regulator of jurisdiction over applications or reporting obligations, and all actions taken remain valid. The Governor in Council may also issue orders under section 186(1) even after statutory time limits have expired.

Recommendation to vary or transfer

Under the Canadian Energy Regulator Act section 191, the Governor in Council may issue orders directing the Commission to vary or transfer energy certificates as recommended, decline the variation or transfer, or direct reconsideration of the matter.

Recommendation not to vary or transfer

Under Canadian Energy Regulator Act section 192, if the Commission recommends against varying or transferring an energy certificate, the Governor in Council may issue an order directing the Commission to decline the variation or transfer or to reconsider the matter.

Order to reconsider

Section 193 of the Canadian Energy Regulator Act grants the Governor in Council authority to order the Commission to reconsider its decisions, with discretion to specify factors for consideration and completion timelines. The Commission must report any resulting changes to its recommendations back to the Governor in Council.

Publication of order

Orders issued by the Canadian Energy Regulator under sections 191 or 192 of the Canadian Energy Regulator Act must be published in the Canada Gazette within 15 days of issuance.

Revocation of certificates — application or consent

The Canadian Energy Regulator may revoke certificates issued under Part 2 of the Act by order, either upon application by the certificate holder or with their written consent.

Revocation of certificates — contravention

The Canadian Energy Regulator may revoke a certificate if the holder violates any condition, subject to Governor in Council approval. The regulator must provide written notice of the alleged violation and grant the certificate holder an opportunity to be heard before revocation.

Approval

Pipeline companies must obtain a Canadian Energy Regulator certificate before constructing any pipeline section, comply with all certificate conditions, secure Regulator approval of construction plans and specifications, and deposit certified copies in relevant land registries.

Suspension of certificates

The Canadian Energy Regulator Commission may suspend energy certificates by order if the certificate holder requests suspension, consents to it, or breaches certificate conditions. Before suspending for non-compliance, the Commission must provide written notice and opportunity for the holder to respond.

Report

The Canadian Energy Regulator must prepare a report within 450 days on pipeline certificate applications, recommending approval or denial based on public convenience and necessity. The evaluation must consider environmental and cumulative effects, safety, Indigenous interests and rights, market feasibility, economic viability, financial capacity, and alignment with Canada's climate commitments.

Matters to be taken into account

The Canadian Energy Regulator must consider all written submissions and public hearing representations when approving pipeline construction plans, routes, and methods. The Regulator may approve sections where no submissions have been filed.

Costs of making representations

The Canadian Energy Regulator Commission may order pipeline companies to reimburse reasonable costs incurred by persons making representations at public hearings concerning pipeline routes, payable on an interim or final basis without delay.

Application of certain provisions

Section 290 of the Canadian Energy Regulator Act applies compliance provisions (sections 315–318 and 341) to international and interprovincial power lines subject to regulatory orders. Permit and certificate holders must comply, except for activities authorized by leave, facilities with existing certificate conditions, navigable water crossings, and authorizations issued before July 3, 2013.

For greater certainty

Issuance of a Canadian Energy Regulator certificate or approval of plans, profiles, and books of reference does not exempt regulated companies from compliance with other provisions of the Canadian Energy Regulator Act.

Leave required

Pipeline companies must obtain a leave order from the Canadian Energy Regulator Commission before opening a pipeline or section for transmission of hydrocarbons or other commodities. Leave is granted only when the Commission is satisfied the pipeline can safely operate.

Construction or operation — navigable water

Under Canadian Energy Regulator Act section 218, any person must obtain a certificate or order from the Canadian Energy Regulator before constructing or operating a pipeline that crosses navigable waters in any manner (in, on, over, under, through, or across).

Effects of recommendation on navigation

The Canadian Energy Regulator must consider navigation safety impacts as a material factor when recommending pipeline approvals and making regulatory decisions for pipelines crossing navigable waters.

Existing terms and conditions

Section 222 of the Canadian Energy Regulator Act deems all terms and conditions imposed on pipelines before July 3, 2013 under the National Energy Board Act to be conditions of CER certificates or orders. Pipeline companies must construct pipelines according to previously specified orders, regulations, plans, and specifications, or as directed by the Commission.

Interim tolls

The Canadian Energy Regulator may direct pipeline companies to refund tolls charged above just and reasonable amounts under interim orders, or recover shortfalls through subsequent tolls, with interest determined by the regulator.

General rule

Section 238 of the Canadian Energy Regulator Act requires pipeline and commodity transmission companies to disclose liability limitations in filed tariffs, obtain Commission approval, or have regulatory authorization. The Commission determines permissible liability limits and prescribes transmission conditions for hydrocarbons and other commodities.

Costs and expenses related to abandonment

The Canadian Energy Regulator may require pipeline companies to establish and maintain financial funds or security to ensure they can pay for pipeline abandonment and related costs. The Regulator can direct use of these funds, authorize third parties to access them, realize security to cover abandonment expenses, and allocate any surplus to the Orphan Pipelines Account.

Orphan pipelines

Under the Canadian Energy Regulator Act, a designated officer may declare a pipeline an orphan pipeline if the certificate-holding company cannot be located, is unknown, insolvent, bankrupt, in receivership, or dissolved. Persons named in prior regulatory orders or authorized under Special Acts are deemed certificate holders for orphan pipeline designation purposes.

Prohibition

Persons are prohibited from constructing or operating any section or part of an international power line without first obtaining a permit under section 248 or a certificate under section 262 of the Canadian Energy Regulator Act.

Issuance

The Canadian Energy Regulator must issue permits for construction and operation of international power lines upon application, subject to the Impact Assessment Act, unless the project is designated by Governor in Council order or an alternative regulatory election applies. Applicants must provide all information specified in regulations.

Paramountcy

Federal permits and certificates issued under the Canadian Energy Regulator Act, along with applicable Acts of Parliament, take precedence over conflicting provincial laws when applied to federally regulated energy projects, establishing federal regulatory supremacy.

Recommendation and delay of issuance

The Canadian Energy Regulator may recommend to the Minister that an international power line be designated by Governor in Council order and may delay permit issuance during this process. The Regulator must avoid duplicating provincial measures and must consider interprovincial effects, environmental impacts, and regulatory factors when deciding whether to recommend designation.

Where certificate required

Under Canadian Energy Regulator Act section 261, the Governor in Council may designate interprovincial power lines requiring certificates. No person may construct or operate a designated interprovincial power line without a valid certificate issued under section 262. The Governor may specify considerations the Commission must regard when deciding whether to issue certificates.

Application

Section 264 of the Canadian Energy Regulator Act defines CER jurisdiction over three categories of power lines: international lines with filed elections, unregulated portions of international lines in provinces without designated regulatory agencies, and interprovincial lines subject to regulatory orders.

Construction or operation

A person must obtain a permit under section 248 or a certificate under the Canadian Energy Regulator Act before constructing or operating an international or interprovincial power line that crosses navigable waters.