Roles and responsibilities
With complex projects like the Trans Mountain Expansion Project (TMX), it is important to know who is in charge of what. We worked collaboratively to ensure a transparent and robust process.
Who owns the Trans Mountain Expansion Project?
The Government of Canada, through the Canadian Development Investment Corporation (CDEV). CDEV is a federal Crown corporation responsible for the commercial management of assets owned by the Government of Canada, reporting to the Minister of Finance.
Who runs the Trans Mountain Expansion Project?
Trans Mountain Corporation (TMC) is a subsidiary of CDEV that owns and operates both the existing pipeline and the expansion project. Its representatives were involved in Phase III consultations and participated in meetings with Indigenous groups.
TMC obtained federal regulatory approvals for the TMX project, including:
- approvals from the Canada Energy Regulator (CER) (formerly the National Energy Board) to authorize the construction and continued operation of the pipelines
- authorizations under the Fisheries Act
- permits under the Species at Risk Act
- approval under the Indian Act to cross First Nations reserves by Crown–Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada
- authorization under the Canadian Transportation Act for construction crossing a railway line
- approval and licencing issued under the Explosives Act
Who oversees the Trans Mountain pipeline and expansion project?
Finance Canada
- Responsible for ensuring the proper oversight of Canada’s ownership of the TMC, including the TMX project and any economic participation by Indigenous groups.
Canada Energy Regulator (CER)
- The Canada Energy Regulator (CER) (previously the National Energy Board) is a lifecycle regulator that holds federally regulated companies accountable to project conditions, regulations, codes and standards.
- The CER oversees company programs in integrity, safety, damage prevention, emergency management, security and environmental protection.
- Regulates Trans Mountain tolls and tariffs.
- Adjudicated the TMX project application and Reconsideration process and made recommendations to the Governor in Council.
Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)
- Was responsible for overseeing the Crown consultation process, reporting to Cabinet on the progress of the consultations and advising the government on whether to approve the TMX project.
- The Minister of Natural Resources (now the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources) acted as Crown Consultation Coordinator and was responsible for planning, delivering, and overseeing the Crown consultation process to ensure the Crown fulfilled its constitutional duty.
- Coordinating across federal departments and supporting delivery of the eight accommodation measures to address potential impacts to Indigenous rights and interests.
- Supporting responses to the CER’s recommendations to mitigate the impacts of marine shipping.
- Supporting the Indigenous Advisory and Monitoring Committee for the Trans Mountain Expansion Project (IAMC-TMX).
Learn more about NRCan’s role in the Evaluation of Trans Mountain Expansion Phase IV Coordination.
Appointed Advisors
Two advisors were appointed to oversee various aspects of the project:
- A Federal Representative was appointed to oversee the Crown consultation and accommodation process after the Federal Court of Appeal decision.
- A marine technical advisor was appointed to the National energy board (now CER) to provide expert advice on marine issues.
What did the other government departments do?
The following departments contributed information or knowledge by participating in the CER’s reconsideration process and the re-initiated Phase III consultations. They also support the implementation of the accommodation measures, CER recommendation responses, and participate in IAMC-TMX:
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