Co-development of an Indigenous Collaborative Mechanism

CER – CER and Indigenous Communities explore collaboration on oversight of the NGTL pipeline system 2023 (cer-rec.gc.ca)

March 27, 2023

CER and Indigenous Leadership Meetings

Canada Energy Regulator on Twitter: "(1/3) We recently held the final CER and Indigenous leadership meeting to talk about increased Indigenous involvement in the oversight of the NGTL system. These meetings looked at opportunities and challenges for Indigenous involvement in the NGTL system. https://t.co/TMzZdlLAfe" / Twitter

June 28, 2022

The Canada Energy Regulator (CER) is committed to a renewed relationship with Indigenous Peoples based on the recognition of rights, respect, co-operation, and partnership. We are transforming the way we work with Indigenous Peoples, with a commitment to implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

The CER is moving forward with this important work, and is proceeding with the development of an initiative to co-develop a collaborative mechanism with Indigenous Peoples relating to pipeline compliance and oversight of the NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd. system (NGTL System). The aim of the initiative is to foster discussions regarding the rights and interests of Indigenous Peoples as they relate to the compliance and oversight for all existing NGTL pipeline projects regulated by the CER, including the 2021 NGTL System Expansion Project, Edson Mainline Expansion Project, and North Corridor Expansion Project. The new mechanism would also apply to future CER-regulated pipelines that may be added to the NGTL system, such as the proposed NGTL West Path Delivery 2023 Project, if approved.

Many Indigenous Nations, communities, settlements and groups (Indigenous communities) potentially affected by the approximately 25,000 kilometers of pipelines in the NGTL system, have expressed the following needs:

1. Being involved in the protection of the rights and interests of Indigenous Peoples including those related to the protection of the environment and cultural heritage;
2. Being part of the oversight of emergency management planning; and
3. Ensuring sustainable, predictable funding and processes in order to enable participation in the lifecycle oversight of the pipeline system.

Continuing to advance the shared path to Reconciliation, this initiative builds on the steps the CER has taken over the past few years to enhance Indigenous Peoples’ involvement in compliance and oversight and seeks to establish a cooperative way forward, in partnership with Indigenous communities. The initiative will provide opportunities to incorporate knowledge and experience gained from the CER’s NGTL Indigenous Monitoring Program, which is now entering its second implementation phase, as well as well as from the Indigenous Advisory and Monitoring Committees for the Trans Mountain Expansion Project and the Line 3 Replacement Program.

The CER will reach out to Indigenous communities potentially affected by the NGTL system to organize leadership meetings that will launch the next phase of this initiative in the Fall. These discussions will focus on exploring how to shape the leadership meetings, including Indigenous protocols, agendas and funding support for participation in this discussion.

These communities will have the opportunity to apply for financial support to participate in the initiative. As part of this initial engagement, we will be looking for input on how to align future funding with the next steps of engagement.

For more information on this initiative, or to provide the name of someone from your community who could help shape the leadership meetings, please contact the Engagement Team at engagement-mobilisation@cer-rec.gc.ca.