NEB reform Canada’s opportunity to rebuild public trust in energy decision-making

OTTAWA, March 31, 2017 — Canada’s review of the National Energy Board (NEB) is a timely opportunity to ensure energy projects serve the public interest in a world transitioning away from fossil fuels, according to a new report released today by the Pembina Institute.

The NEB is not equipped to usher Canada into its next phase of low-carbon development. Reforms to the NEB’s structure, governance and mandate are essential to Canada’s long-term competitiveness.

“The federal government has an opportunity to build on the NEB’s core competencies by ensuring it has a mandate to produce energy data consistent with successful implementation of the Paris Agreement,” said Lindsay Wiginton, analyst, Pembina Institute.

“This is an essential requirement for Canada: data produced by the NEB is widely used for energy policy development and planning across the country, and it should reflect our climate commitments,” she added.

The report, Good Governance in the Era of Low Carbon, calls on the NEB Expert Panel — which wraps up its cross-country public engagement tour today — to recommend a streamlined project review process with greater links between energy and climate objectives.

Canada’s clean growth agenda needs a trusted, inclusive and unbiased federal energy regulator. Ensuring interprovincial energy infrastructure undergoes rigorous environmental assessments, and that the NEB expands its data and modeling capacity, will help rebuild trust in Canada’s energy regulatory landscape.

Quick facts

• The NEB modernization Expert Panel will submit its advice to James Carr, Minister of Natural Resources, by May 15, 2017.
• The NEB modernization Expert Panel held engagement sessions in 10 Canadian cities from January to March 2017.
• The Expert Panel on the Review of Environmental Assessment Processes is expected to release its recommendations report soon. Modifications to the EA process could have significant bearing on the NEB modernization process outcome.Visit the Pembina Institute’s website to download a copy of Good Governance in the Era of Low Carbon.