Administrative Burden Baseline: Update 2025

In its Red Tape Reduction Action Plan, the Government committed to build on the efforts of the Paperwork Burden Reduction Initiative by requiring departments, through the Administrative Burden Baseline, to provide a count of the requirements in federal regulations that impose an administrative burden on business.

All federal regulations that are administered by the Canada Energy Regulator that have requirements that impose administrative burden on business are identified below. The total 2025 count is 6,144. The total June 30th 2014 baseline count is 1,298 and can be viewed on the 2014 Baseline count page.

On August 28, 2019, the National Energy Board became the Canada Energy Regulator. Regulations made under the National Energy Board Act remain in force under the Canadian Energy Regulator Act until they are repealed or others made in their stead, as per the Interpretation Act. Updates to regulations are being implemented through a phased approach.

Between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025, one new regulation came into force. The Canada Offshore Renewable Energy Regulations (CORER) introduced 457 new administrative requirements. The CORER establish a comprehensive regulatory framework to guide the development, construction, operation, abandonment and decommissioning of offshore renewable energy projects, including offshore wind and other technologies. These regulations ensure that activities are done safely, and in a way that protects people and the environment throughout the full lifecycle of ORE projects.

During the reporting period, updates made to the web-based Online Event Reporting System (OERS) resulted in a decrease of 10 requirements. Minor additions and deletions were made to all of the OERS reporting forms to clarify the information required. While the count of administrative requirements in reporting forms may appear burdensome, they actually improve clarity and efficiency. The OERS provides detailed, interactive online forms with structured fields like check boxes and drop-downs, helping companies understand exactly what information is needed. Each field is counted as a separate administrative requirement, but this structure reduces confusion, saves time, and ensures consistent, accurate submissions. The OERS also provides a single window for reporting of events to the Canada Energy Regulator and the Transportation Safety Board (as applicable).

As a result, the total count of requirements has increased from 5,697 in 2024 to 6,144 in 2025.

Previous years’ counts for the Canada Energy Regulator and National Energy Board are available upon request.

Contact:

Jenni Low
Canada Energy Regulator
210-517 10 Ave SW
Calgary AB  T2R 0A8
Email: jenni.low@cer-rec.gc.ca
Telephone: 403-607-3857
Telephone (toll free): 1-800-899-1265

Consult the Canada Energy Regulator’s Acts and Regulations web page for:

• a list of acts and regulations administered by the Canada Energy Regulator
• further information on the Canada Energy Regulator’s implementation of government-wide regulatory management initiatives

Consult the following for links to the Cabinet Directive on Regulation and supporting policies and guidance, and for information on government-wide regulatory initiatives implemented by departments and agencies across the Government of Canada:

• Federal regulatory management
• Learn more about regulatory cooperation

To learn about upcoming or ongoing consultations on proposed federal regulations, visit:

• Consulting with Canadians
• Canada Gazette

Date modified:

2025-09-25