Latest news with #ImpactAssessmentAct
Edmonton Journal
3 days ago
- Business
- Edmonton Journal
Varcoe: Alberta wants a new oil pipeline — history warns of billion-dollar risk and reward of government financial backing
As Canadians watch a new debate unfold over what it will take to get a new oil pipeline built to the Pacific Coast, former Alberta energy minister Ted Morton has sage advice for provincial or federal politicians. Article content Don't forget about history. Article content Article content Past Alberta governments have a painful record of losing money when they get directly involved in major projects, seeking to de-risk developments and encourage the private sector to build. Article content Article content 'The track record is, I think, pretty one sided . . . not in the favour of governments and taxpayers,' he said this week. Article content 'The bottom line is governments routinely get out-negotiated, and the public, the taxpayer, gets stuck with the bill.' Article content Today, the country is contemplating building new energy infrastructure after the Carney government passed Bill C-5, which will fast-track nation-building projects. The prime minister has also said he wants Canada to become an energy superpower. Article content Article content In Alberta, part of the discussion has focused on how to best attract the private sector to develop a greenfield pipeline project to move more oil to the B.C. coast for export. Article content Will it require direct government involvement to make it happen, given the past failures of Energy East and Northern Gateway to proceed, and the high cost needed to get the Trans Mountain expansion built? Article content Will it be enough if Ottawa scraps legislation such as the tanker ban off the northern B.C. coast, the Impact Assessment Act and the oilpatch emissions cap? Article content 'There are only two ways for governments to de-risk (a pipeline). The easy way — and the wrong way — is to pony up, cover costs or reimbursement. (In) both Keystone and Trans Mountain, that's what happened,' said Morton. Article content That could happen with Bill C-5 being passed, although the concept still needs to be proven.
Cision Canada
3 days ago
- Business
- Cision Canada
Government of Canada Provides Early Decision on the Adding Capacity to Sainte-Marguerite-3 Generating Station Project in Quebec
OTTAWA, ON, July 18, 2025 /CNW/ - The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) has conducted an assessment of the Adding Capacity to Sainte-Marguerite-3 Generating Station Project located in on the Sainte-Marguerite River near Sept-Îles, Quebec, and determined that its potential adverse effects within federal jurisdiction would be limited or addressed through other means. The proponent, Hydro-Québec, may now move forward with obtaining any necessary authorizations and permits from federal authorities. To arrive at its section 16 decision under the Impact Assessment Act, IAAC engaged other jurisdictions, federal experts, stakeholders, the public, and Indigenous Peoples to review the project description and identify potential impacts to federal jurisdiction and ensure they can be addressed. IAAC is of the view that the potential adverse effects within federal jurisdiction would be limited or addressed through existing federal and provincial laws and regulations. These include but are not limited to the Fisheries Act, the Species at Risk Act and the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994, as well as Quebec's Environment Quality Act. As a result, a more comprehensive federal impact assessment is not required. The documents and list of factors considered can be found in IAAC's decision with reasons. Quick Facts Hydro-Québec is proposing to increase the capacity of the Sainte-Marguerite-3 hydroelectric power station on the Sainte-Marguerite River near Sept-Îles, Quebec. As proposed, the project would include the installation of a third generating unit in the existing power station, at the site earmarked for this purpose, as well as the construction of a 300-metre underground penstock linking the headrace tunnel to the future generating unit. The project would increase the capacity of the existing power station by at least 440 megawatts, for a total of 1,322 megawatts. The review process from start to finish took 60 days to complete. IAAC facilitates the sustainable development of major projects subject to the Impact Assessment Act through open and efficient assessments. These assessments identify ways to ensure the environment and Indigenous Rights are protected as projects get built. Decisions like these ensure that Canada's impact assessment process is efficient by determining at an early stage whether a comprehensive impact assessment is required or not.
Calgary Herald
3 days ago
- Business
- Calgary Herald
Varcoe: Alberta wants a new oil pipeline — history warns of billion-dollar risk and reward of government financial backing
Article content As Canadians watch a new debate unfold over what it will take to get a new oil pipeline built to the Pacific Coast, former Alberta energy minister Ted Morton has sage advice for provincial or federal politicians. Article content Don't forget about history. Article content Article content Past Alberta governments have a painful record of losing money when they get directly involved in major projects, seeking to de-risk developments and encourage the private sector to build. Article content Article content 'The track record is, I think, pretty one sided . . . not in the favour of governments and taxpayers,' he said this week. Article content Article content One of those projects — the Sturgeon Refinery northeast of Edmonton — saw a $588-million net loss (a 62 per cent reduction from the previous year) recorded in the latest annual report of the Alberta Petroleum Market Commission (APMC), which was released last month. Today, the country is contemplating building new energy infrastructure after the Carney government passed Bill C-5, which will fast-track nation-building projects. The prime minister has also said he wants Canada to become an energy superpower. Article content Article content In Alberta, part of the discussion has focused on how to best attract the private sector to develop a greenfield pipeline project to move more oil to the B.C. coast for export. Article content Will it require direct government involvement to make it happen, given the past failures of Energy East and Northern Gateway to proceed, and the high cost needed to get the Trans Mountain expansion built? Article content Will it be enough if Ottawa scraps legislation such as the tanker ban off the northern B.C. coast, the Impact Assessment Act and the oilpatch emissions cap? Article content 'There are only two ways for governments to de-risk (a pipeline). The easy way — and the wrong way — is to pony up, cover costs or reimbursement. (In) both Keystone and Trans Mountain, that's what happened,' said Morton. Article content That could happen with Bill C-5 being passed, although the concept still needs to be proven.
Edmonton Journal
11-07-2025
- Business
- Edmonton Journal
Varcoe: Bill C-5 charts a path, but new report says full road map needed to get major projects built in Canada
It seeks shorter approval processes for developments that will be built on current industrial brownfield sites. Timelines for regulatory processes 'should be short, concrete and adhered to.' The study calls for governments to take steps to unleash energy as 'Canada's hard power,' selling it to a world that is consuming — and requiring — more each year. The group recommends pursuing development of a North American energy alliance, and says Canada should 'reclaim its position as an agriculture and agri-food superpower.' The report recommends Canada work with other NATO allies to create a critical mineral reserve for defence and military purposes. 'It serves as a clarion call to the federal government that an unprecedented level of policy coherence is really what is going to be necessary to move more energy, food and critical minerals to global markets,' said Business Council of Canada vice-president Michael Gullo. The report is timely, as Canada's federal, provincial and territorial ministers of energy and mines are meeting in Charlottetown this week. Last month, the Carney government passed Bill C-5, which allows it to designate major projects as being in the national interest and accelerate the approval process. Gullo said the new legislation and the prime minister's comments are directionally positive. 'We need to go further,' he added. 'There's still some areas that haven't been sorted out . . . whether it's the oil and gas emissions cap or some of these other areas. They really need to be addressed.' The report by the council says provinces should be in charge of leading the environmental assessments for projects under their jurisdiction, including mines, oilsands facilities, refineries and power-generating facilities. Cross-border pipelines and electricity transmission lines should be assessed by the Canada Energy Regulator. There are other issues that need to be clarified, such as how to get major energy projects built with the federal Impact Assessment Act and the tanker ban off the northern B.C. coast still in place. A tanker sits in dock at the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion Westridge Marine Terminal in Burnaby, B.C. PNimg Carney said Bill C-5 creates flexibility for major projects. 'We're not going to have a project that gets oil to tidewater and it stays there. There's only so much you can do with it. So it comes in the round,' he said. 'How does it fit together with what else we're doing . . . Are we growing competitive oil and gas? Are we growing clean energy at the same time with other projects? Are we growing our critical minerals? Are we growing our AI data centres?' Gitane De Silva, former CEO of the Canada Energy Regulator, said the country has an opportunity to develop and export its natural resources, and provide energy, food and critical minerals to our allies.
Calgary Herald
10-07-2025
- Business
- Calgary Herald
Varcoe: Bill C-5 charts a path, but full road map needed to get major projects built in Canada
It seeks shorter approval processes for developments that will be built on current industrial brownfield sites. Timelines for regulatory processes 'should be short, concrete and adhered to.' The study calls for governments to take steps to unleash energy as 'Canada's hard power,' selling it to a world that is consuming — and requiring — more each year. The group recommends pursuing development of a North American energy alliance, and says Canada should 'reclaim its position as an agriculture and agri-food superpower.' The report recommends Canada work with other NATO allies to create a critical mineral reserve for defence and military purposes. 'It serves as a clarion call to the federal government that an unprecedented level of policy coherence is really what is going to be necessary to move more energy, food and critical minerals to global markets,' said Business Council of Canada vice-president Michael Gullo. The report is timely, as Canada's federal, provincial and territorial ministers of energy and mines are meeting in Charlottetown this week. Last month, the Carney government passed Bill C-5, which allows it to designate major projects as being in the national interest and accelerate the approval process. Gullo said the new legislation and the prime minister's comments are directionally positive. 'We need to go further,' he added. 'There's still some areas that haven't been sorted out . . . whether it's the oil and gas emissions cap or some of these other areas. They really need to be addressed.' The report by the council says provinces should be in charge of leading the environmental assessments for projects under their jurisdiction, including mines, oilsands facilities, refineries and power-generating facilities. Cross-border pipelines and electricity transmission lines should be assessed by the Canada Energy Regulator. There are other issues that need to be clarified, such as how to get major energy projects built with the federal Impact Assessment Act and the tanker ban off the northern B.C. coast still in place. A tanker sits in dock at the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion Westridge Marine Terminal in Burnaby, B.C. PNimg Carney said Bill C-5 creates flexibility for major projects. 'We're not going to have a project that gets oil to tidewater and it stays there. There's only so much you can do with it. So it comes in the round,' he said. 'How does it fit together with what else we're doing . . . Are we growing competitive oil and gas? Are we growing clean energy at the same time with other projects? Are we growing our critical minerals? Are we growing our AI data centres?' Gitane De Silva, former CEO of the Canada Energy Regulator, said the country has an opportunity to develop and export its natural resources, and provide energy, food and critical minerals to our allies.
