One regulator for the long-haul pipes. The panel track is gone
Amendments to the Physical Activities Regulations announced September 9 move interprovincial and international pipelines, international and designated interprovincial power lines, and certain offshore renewable projects to a Canada Energy Regulator assessment. They will no longer go through an integrated review panel under the Impact Assessment Act.
Ottawa said the CER already reviews air, water, climate, wildlife, socio-economic effects, and Indigenous rights under the Canadian Energy Regulator Act. Industry groups have backed exclusive CER review as a way to cut duplicate federal tracks. Environmental groups said the change lands days before a federal investment summit and weakens independent scrutiny.
Pembina's July 2 heads of agreement on a proposed West Coast crude line still targets definitive agreements in September and an October 1 Building Canada Act designation. That paperwork clock did not move Wednesday. The Gazette change is about which federal shop runs the review if a nation-building pipe is designated, not a construction start.
Enbridge's Line 5 restart target remains September 12. That outage is a Wisconsin NGL file, not a new Canadian certificate.