National Energy Board Modernization Expert Panel Delivers Report

May 15, 2017 -- Ottawa -- Natural Resources Canada

Modernizing the National Energy Board (NEB) is a priority of the Government of Canada to help ensure we develop our resources responsibly. It will also be key to growing the economy in an environmentally responsible way. This is what Canadians expect.

Today marks a milestone in this modernization process as Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, the Honourable Jim Carr, received the report from the expert panel reviewing the NEB. The report includes 26 recommendations and advice. The Government of Canada is now accepting comments online about the report for 30 days until June 14.

The expert panel, comprising notable Canadians David Besner, Wendy Grant-John, Brenda Kenny and co-chairs Hélène Lauzon and Gary Merasty, examined issues beyond environmental assessment, including the NEB’s structure, role and mandate, with a particular focus on growing the participation of the public and Indigenous peoples in regulatory reviews.

The panel heard from Canadians in person and online and specifically sought the views of Indigenous peoples. The panel travelled to 10 cities, from Vancouver to Yellowknife to Saint John. It heard presentations from close to 200 individuals, and over 1,000 people attended the sessions in person. More than 200 detailed written submissions were provided to the panel online.

Modernizing the NEB is part of the Government’s review of Canada's environmental assessment and regulatory processes, announced in June 2016, including the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012, the Fisheries Act and the Navigation Protection Act. The objective is to build a new system that is fair and robust, respects the rights of Indigenous peoples, based on scientific evidence and protects our environment for generations to come.

Over the next few months, the Government of Canada will review the expert panel’s report in depth along with the reports from the other three environmental and regulatory reviews to inform the development of next steps.