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National Energy Board - 2015-16 - Report on Plans and Priorities [PDF 254 KB]

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ISSN 2292-3926

2015-16
Report on Plans and Priorities

National Energy Board

The original version was signed by
C. Peter Watson, P.Eng., FCAE
Chair and CEO
National Energy Board

The original version was signed by
The Honourable Greg Rickford, P.C., M.P.
Minister
Natural Resources

Table of Contents

Message from the Chair and CEO

Section I: Organizational Expenditure Overview

• Organizational Profile
• Organizational Context
  • Raison d’être
  • Responsibilities
  • Strategic Outcome(s) and Program Alignment Architecture
  • Organizational Priorities
  • Risk Analysis
• Planned Expenditures
• Alignment of Spending With the Whole-of-Government Framework
• Departmental Spending Trend
• Estimates by Vote

Section II: Analysis of Program(s) by Strategic Outcome (s)

• Strategic Outcome
  • Program 1.1: Energy Regulation
  • Sub-Program 1.1.1: Energy Regulation Development
  • Sub-Program 1.1.2: Energy Regulation Implementation, Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement
  • Program 1.2: Energy Information
  • Internal Services

Section III: Supplementary Information

• Future-Oriented Statement of Operations
• Supplementary Information Tables
  • Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy;
  • Disclosure of Transfer Payment Programs (TPP) under $5 million
  • Upcoming Internal Audits and Evaluations Over the Next Three Fiscal Years.
• Tax Expenditures and Evaluations Report

Section IV: Organizational Contact Information

• Organizational Contact Information
• Appendix: Definitions
• Endnotes

Message from the Chair and CEO

I am pleased to present this 2015-16 Report on Plans and Priorities for the National Energy Board (NEB or Board). This report comes at a critical juncture for the NEB as now, more than ever before, the Board faces challenges from all parts of the Canadian energy landscape. An unprecedented level of public engagement in energy issues both locally and globally is prompting an evolution in how the Board fulfils its commitment to balancing all aspects of the public interest. An increasing number of large and highly complex project applications are juxtaposed against the operational realities of legislated time limits, resource constraints and the need for fair, efficient regulatory processes. While our core mandate has not changed, our strategic focus will be adapted to meet these challenges head on.

The NEB will continue to strategically develop, refine and communicate our action on pipeline safety and environmental protection, demonstrating a stronger link between our targeted safety and compliance actions and the safety performance of companies we regulate. Placing increased focus on trending, root cause and systemic issues will lead to broader, more proactive compliance and enforcement actions, and ultimately, better pipeline safety and environmental protection outcomes in the industry we regulate. In addition, we will focus more oversight on not just preventing incidents, but also fostering the development of an industry safety culture in which incidents are less likely to occur.

Our ongoing focus on safety outcomes will be complemented with a more strategic, intensive approach to engaging with and listening to Canadians. This means reaching out to Canadians as a whole, beyond the scope of our regulatory processes, with the goal of more fully understanding regional and national needs. Through active, transparent communication, the Board will hear what Canadians have to say to us, and be open to making changes based on those conversations.

Internally, we will work to develop and implement a framework for regulatory excellence. We are taking steps to define what regulatory excellence means for us as an organization, putting structure around our organizational self-assessment, bench-marking and measurement. We will show, quantitatively as well as qualitatively, how we know our programs are focused on the right things and achieving the right results.

Parliament has clearly mandated that the job of the NEB is to assess the need for new international and provincial or territorial cross-border energy infrastructure and make sure it can be constructed and operated safely. We remain focused on our primary goal: to help keep pipelines safe and protect the environment. The NEB is supported by the technical expertise and deep commitment of 450 skilled staff and highly accomplished, independent Board Members. It now only remains to refine how we approach our job and our goal, to ensure that we continue to perform as the regulator that Canada needs and deserves.

C. Peter Watson, P.Eng., FCAE
Chair and CEO
National Energy Board

Date modified:

2021-01-18