Question Period Note: Nova Gas Transmission Line – North Corridor Expansion

On September 3, 2020, the Canada Energy Regulator (CER) published its Recommendation Report on the proposed NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd. (NGTL) North Corridor Expansion project. The CER recommended the project be approved with 34 conditions.
The project seeks to construct and operate approximately 81 km of looped pipeline, in three different sections, with associated facilities in northwestern Alberta. An expanded NGTL system will transport gas within Alberta from the Peace River Project Area to growing intra-basin markets located in the North of Bens Area.
Following the CER’s recommendation report, the Government of Canada had a legislated time line of three months to issue a decision on the project, on or before December 3. On November 26, the Government of Canada approved a five-month extension to complete its consultations with Indigenous groups. The Minister may be asked to comment on the delay.

• Our government believes in a competitive and sustainable natural resources sector and that good projects must go ahead with the full confidence of Canadians.
• Our role is to assess whether the NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd (NGTL) North Corridor Expansion is in the public interest, and to ensure that impacts to Indigenous rights are mitigated and accommodated, as appropriate.
• We have extended the deadline for this decision by five months, until May 3, 2021.
• This will allow us more time to safely complete consultations in a manner that respects public health guidance during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as address any outstanding concerns, fully consider all of the information raised during consultations, and make an informed determination on the project.
If pressed on consulations with Indigenous communities during the COVID-19 pandemic:
• No relationship is more important to the government than the one with Indigenous peoples.
• The government’s role is to assess whether the project is in the public interest, and to ensure that impacts to Indigenous rights are mitigated and accommodated. We know this is only possible when we earn public trust and work toward addressing environmental and Indigenous peoples’ and local concerns.
• Consultations with Indigenous peoples are underway, and we will continue to actively consult them to ensure that we move forward in the right way.
• Due to the pandemic, we have suspended all in-person meetings for safety reasons, and have offered Indigenous groups alternative means to consult, including teleconferencing and videoconferencing.
If pressed on the approval of the North Corridor Expansion project:
• The Canada Energy Regulator determined that the NGTL North Corridor Expansion project will not cause significant adverse environmental effects and is in the public interest.
• The CER has issued a series of conditions to address the project’s impact on Indigenous rights and on the environment. We are currently reviewing the CER Recommendation Report with potentially impacted Indigenous groups.
• It is a core responsibility of the federal government to help get Canada’s natural resources to new markets and support good, middle-class jobs. This is only possible when we meet our constitutional duty to meaningfully consult with potentially impacted Indigenous groups.

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