2024–25 Annual Report of the Canada Energy Regulator

Copyright/Permission to Reproduce

ISSN 2563-3155

Colorful sunset across hills

Table of Contents


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Message from the Chairperson

George Vegh – Chairperson, Board of Directors of the Canada Energy Regulator

As Chairperson of the Canada Energy Regulator (CER) Board of Directors, I am pleased to present the CER’s Annual Report for 2024-25. As we navigate an increasingly dynamic and evolving energy landscape, the Board remains dedicated to providing strong advice and direction and supporting the organization to fulfill its mandate with excellence.

In 2024, the CER celebrated its fifth anniversary. This is an important milestone in the ongoing evolution of the organization as a modern regulator. The launch of the Canadian Energy Regulator Act (CER Act) in August 2019 established the CER as Canada’s energy regulator with new authorities and responsibilities.

Over the past five years, the Board has seen the organization develop, strengthen its relationships with diverse communities and embrace new and innovative ways in how its work is undertaken.

Building on the last five years, the Board set the strategic priorities of the organization at the start of the 2024-25 fiscal year as: trust and confidence, Reconciliation and implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UN Declaration), competitiveness and regulatory excellence, and preparing for the energy future. The organization moved these priorities forward with clear and tangible success as you will read in the report that follows. This includes, for example, our Onshore Pipeline Regulations (OPR) and Filing Manual Review, our collaborative work with the Indigenous Advisory Committee on United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (UN Declaration Act) Action Plan Measure 34 (Shared Priorities) (UN Declaration Act APM SP34), and the energy information that we provide to Canadians.

This year’s achievements reflect the organization’s ability to adapt, lead, and build on its strengths. I commend the team on their focus on enhancing efficiency and streamlining decision-making. The CER Portal is a great example of their efforts that are already helping to reduce timelines and improve regulatory effectiveness. The commitment and dedication of our staff and leadership have been instrumental in advancing these priorities and positioning the organization for long-term success.

In 2024–25, the Board of Directors welcomed three new members: Peter Fraser, Matthew Foss, and Annette Bergeron. Each brings extensive experience and expertise to the CER and to the Board. We also recognize and thank Karim Mahmud, Cassie Doyle, and Ellen Barry, whose terms concluded in 2024–25, for their outstanding contributions. On behalf of the Board of Directors, I extend my heartfelt appreciation to the CER’s staff for their unwavering dedication and professionalism.

With confidence in our path forward, I am proud to submit the CER’s 2024-25 Annual Report to the Honourable Tim Hodgson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources.

Original signed by

George Vegh
Chairperson
Board of Directors of the Canada Energy Regulator

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Message from the Chief Executive Officer

Tracy Sletto - Chief Executive Officer, Canada Energy Regulator

As the Chief Executive Officer of the CER, I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved over the past year.

As Canada’s primary safety and economic energy regulator, the CER regulates pipelines, power lines, energy development and trade in the Canadian public interest. We ensure energy projects are built, operated, and abandoned safely. Safety and environmental protection are at the core of what we do.

We continue to innovate in how we meet our mandate, finding new ways to be fast, flexible, efficient and transparent. A key part of our success has been our ongoing commitment to streamline and improve how we work. This ensures that we stay competitive and adapt to change – while still maintaining rigorous safety and environmental standards. Our readiness is evident across several areas from emergency response readiness to the review of the OPR and Filing Manual, to significant improvements in streamlining our hearing and decision-making processes and the launch of the CER Portal.

The CER builds lasting relationships with Indigenous Peoples, municipal and provincial/territorial governments and stakeholders to create the trust and confidence necessary for permitted projects to be built. We are committed to Reconciliation and implementation of the UN Declaration. We are weaving Indigenous perspectives throughout our processes. This includes our work to advance UN Declaration Act APM SP34 where the CER has a leadership role around enhancing Indigenous participation in our oversight and decision-making processes. Our goal is to build more inclusive and meaningful relationships.

As an Agent of the Crown, we are committed to continuing to explore new ways to ensure Indigenous Peoples are meaningfully consulted and engaged. By bringing Indigenous Peoples into discussions earlier and working collaboratively on solutions, we are improving both the process and its outcomes.

We remain deeply committed to regulatory excellence, ensuring that Canada’s energy sector has a clear and predictable framework for decision-making that can adapt to changes in our regulated industry as well as broader society. We are also proud to support the federal government’s initiatives to improve regulatory effectiveness and efficiency. We have made strategic investments in automation and streamlining decision-making to reduce timelines and improve regulatory effectiveness. Since 2019, the CER has assessed 4,216 infrastructure, tolls and tariffs, northern, export and other applications and met its legislated time limits for infrastructure project reviews 99 per cent of the time.

Preparing for the future of energy is a key part of our strategy. We publish timely, factual and unbiased energy information products that inform and educate policymakers, industry and everyday Canadians about the energy conversation. We regularly provide market snapshots that highlight emerging trends in different segments of the energy market and our Pipeline Profiles that showcase key data and information for pipelines that are regulated by the CER. We are building our ability to support energy security, resilience and innovation.

Looking ahead, we know that change is constant, and we remain focused on how shifts in the energy sector will affect everyone in the country. While we cannot predict what changes might come, we are committed to adapting to the evolving energy landscape and ensuring we are prepared to meet the needs of Canadians, Indigenous Peoples and industry. Our responsibility remains the same: ensuring safety, protecting communities and the environment and building a regulatory system that is future-ready.

As we move forward into 2025-26, I am filled with optimism and confidence in the progress we have made and the direction we are headed.

With my thanks and appreciation,

Original signed by

Tracy Sletto
Chief Executive Officer
Canada Energy Regulator

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Message from the Indigenous Advisory Committee Chairperson

Tribal Chief Tyrone McNeil - Chairperson, Indigenous Advisory Committee

The Indigenous Advisory Committee (IAC) was established to provide a space for Indigenous voices, knowledge and perspectives to be reflected within the CER’s governance, which in turn could help to shape how the CER works.

Since August 2020, we’ve been working to strengthen relationships between the CER and First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. The eight members of the IAC are recognized leaders and advocates in their communities with extensive experience in energy and national resources, each bringing our unique lived experiences, languages, and cultural teachings. Together, we help shape how the CER works alongside Inuit, Métis and First Nations so that our rights, values and knowledge are respected and upheld, moving beyond cultural competency and towards cultural integrity.

Creating meaningful change is not without challenges and the journey is not linear. Constructive tensions will emerge when an institution begins adapting its way of working and thinking to integrate diverse voices and worldviews. But real progress is made through open, honest, and sometimes difficult conversations, and with the willingness of the CER to have these conversations, I am confident that rights holders will begin to see and feel the results of these efforts.

The IAC continues to play a key role in shaping the CER’s work. Our work has broadened the Indigenous Monitoring Program to include traditional land use, sacred sites, and historical knowledge. The IAC also helped guide the CER’s approach for the next Energy Futures report, leading to collaboration with Indigenous consultant Mokwateh to support Indigenous perspectives being included in Canada’s energy transition dialogue. With IAC support, the CER continues to grow its cultural competency and intelligence.

There is still a long journey ahead. We move forward in a good way, guided by relationships, respect and the shared commitment to meaningful change.

Original signed by

Tribal Chief Tyrone McNeil
Chairperson
Indigenous Advisory Committee


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