ARCHIVED - National Energy Board - 2013-14 - Report on Plans and Priorities - Message from the Chair and CEO

Message from the Chair and CEO

For the National Energy Board, this past year was one of legislative change, an ever increasing focus on safety, and a continued effort to engage Northerners on issues that directly affect them.

The passing of the Jobs, Growth and Long-term Prosperity Act brought with it the first significant changes to the NEB Act since its creation. These changes resulted in new tools to increase regulatory efficiency and predictability for both applicants and the public around time limits for applications. Parliament has set time limits for facility project reviews which will not exceed 15 months. I have been given the responsibility to ensure these time limits are met and the NEB is well-positioned to handle this continued influx of major applications.

The NEB Act has also been amended to address what the Board may consider when deciding whether to issue a gas export license. When reviewing an application for a license, the Board can now only consider whether the quantity to be exported is surplus to Canadian needs, taking into account trends in discovery of the resource. In so doing, Canadians will have the resources that they need at home.

This coming year, the NEB will continue to demonstrate our ongoing commitment to our priority of safety and environmental protection. The Government of Canada, as part of its plan for Responsible Resource Development, has provided the NEB with funds to hire additional staff, increase the number of annual inspections for our regulated companies by fifty per cent and double the number of comprehensive audits. Starting in July, the NEB will be able to utilize another tool in our compliance and enforcement toolkit, administrative monetary penalties (AMPs). This will allow us to issue financial penalties to companies, third-party contractors and individuals for violation of safety and environmental protection legislation.

The Board’s expectations for its requirements pertaining to an organizational culture of safety and effective management systems will be front and centre this year. This includes a requirement for companies to designate an officer who is personally accountable for the management system and outcomes related to safety and environmental protection. The Board will also complete its final commitment made in the NEB Action Plan on Safety and Environmental Protection by hosting a Safety Forum in June 2013. Key issues at this forum will include corporate leadership’s role in building and maintaining a safety culture, integration within management systems and effective safety performance measurement. I firmly believe these measures will provide the foundation for an increasingly robust, industry-wide culture of safety.

Finally, the NEB will continue to prioritize developing trust with Northerners and Northern institutions. This will include engagement at all levels, from youth to elders to institutions created by land claims. The NEB is committed to hearing the voices of those who know and love the North best before it deals with applications for resource development affecting them.

The past year was one of change for the NEB. The coming year will see more of this exciting change as we hold true to our commitment to work in the public interest so that we can continue to protect and reflect the values of the Canadians we serve.

Gaétan Caron
Chair and CEO
National Energy Board

Date modified:

2021-01-18