First reading is a tabled bill. It is not a permit
The House of Commons gave first reading Monday, September 21, to Bill C-39, the Building Canada Strong Act. Parliament's bill page lists the Minister of Transport as sponsor. Latest activity is still that first reading. Second reading has no sitting. There are no recorded votes.
The bill summary says Division 3 of Part 1 would amend the Canadian Energy Regulator Act so decisions on pipelines, designated power lines, and offshore renewable energy projects are issued within one year of receiving the required information and studies. It would make the Commission the sole assessor of those applications and leave the Governor in Council to decide whether certain pipelines and designated power lines are in the public interest.
Energy Minister Tim Hodgson sent a letter the same day to Canada Energy Regulator chief executive Tracy Sletto. He said the bill includes proposed new CER authorities, and that a follow-up letter will come once the relevant provisions are in force. The letter repeats the government's aim of federal decisions in no more than one year after a proponent files the required information and studies. That clock is not a project start date.
This sits on top of the September 9 Physical Activities Regulations change that already sent interprovincial and international pipes to a CER assessment instead of an Impact Assessment Act panel. That Gazette step is in force. C-39 is the legislative follow-through. It is not law, not a certificate, and not an FID. It is not Line 5, and it does not move Pembina's West Coast heads of agreement.