Current Initiatives

We work with the governments and other regulators to continually improve our regulatory framework.

The governments develop legislation governing offshore oil and gas activities, with our role being to provide technical advice. We work closely with the federal and provincial governments, as participants, to provide insight and knowledge for their consideration in developing policy intent for the drafting of legislation. We also review draft legislation that is developed before it is enacted into law, as well as take part in a variety of technical working groups and steering committees in support of such initiatives.

Once new legislation becomes law, it is then our job to enforce the new rules. We correspond with operators to make sure they properly transition from the current regulatory framework and ensure that they become compliant with the new rules and our expectations. 

Learn more below.

Frontier and Offshore Regulatory Renewal InitiativeWe are currently participating in the development of a modernized suite of regulations governing offshore oil and gas activities in Canada. Learn more.

The Frontier and Offshore Regulatory Renewal Initiative is a federal-provincial government partnership working to modernize the offshore oil and gas regulatory framework in Canada by combining five existing regulations into one set of operational requirements called the Framework Regulations. This new regulation will update safety and environmental protection requirements while continuing to ensure an effective and efficient regulatory system. This initiative aims to further advance the high standards for safety, environmental protection and resource management that are already in place.

Partners in this initiative include:

In addition to government partners, the following organizations are participants include:

Framework Regulations

In developing the Framework Regulations, the governments are adopting a hybrid regulatory approach that balances prescriptive and performance based requirements. These requirements will be prescriptive in areas where the necessary management methods (plans, programs, systems), operational standards and reporting requirements need to be specifically defined to achieve the desired outcomes. Other requirements will be more flexible enabling the offshore oil and gas industry to determine the appropriate means to achieve regulatory objectives. This is typically in cases where there are multiple ways of achieving a desired outcome depending on specific circumstances (i.e. hazards, risks and environmental conditions).

Learn more about the Frontier and Offshore Regulatory Renewal Initiative on the Natural Resources Canada website here.

Atlantic Occupational Health and Safety InitiativeWe are participating in the modernization of the occupational health and safety regulations for offshore oil and gas activities in Canada. Learn more.

The Atlantic Occupational Health and Safety Initiative is a federal-provincial government partnership working to update and develop permanent regulations for occupational health and safety. The initiative focuses on ensuring the appropriate protection of the health, safety and wellbeing of offshore oil and gas workers with an aim to prevent accidents and injuries arising out of, linked to, or during the time workers are employed offshore.

Partners in this initiative include:

In addition to government partners, the following organizations are participants include:

More information on the Atlantic Occupational Health and Safety Initiative can be found on the Natural Resources Canada website here.

Impact Assessment ActWe are participating in discussions on the development and implementation of an integrated approach to impact assessments for oil and gas projects governed by the Accord Acts that also trigger the Impact Assessment Act. Learn more.

In February 2018, the Government of Canada released Bill C-69 and Bill C-68. Over the next 17 months, the Bills were reviewed and amended through the House of Commons and the Senate before receiving Royal Assent on June 21, 2019. The new and amended legislation came into force on August 28, 2019.

In preparation for the Royal Assent of Bill C-69, the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada) formed a working group in August 2018. The purpose of the meeting was to initiate discussions on the development of an integrated approach to impact assessments for offshore oil and gas projects under the Accord Acts and the (then) proposed Impact Assessment Act.

Working group members in this initiative include: