Canada Energy Regulator – 2026–27 Departmental Plan – Vision, Mission, Raison d’être and Operating Context

Our Vision  

The Canada Energy Regulator (CER) is a recognized leader in the regulation of energy infrastructure. We enable safe, reliable, competitive and environmentally sustainable energy transmission. We have the confidence of Canadians and we uphold the inherent and constitutionally protected rights of First Nations, Inuit and Métis. Our commitment to regulatory excellence enhances Canada’s global competitiveness.

Our Mission 

We regulate energy infrastructure in a way that prevents harm and ensures the safe, reliable, competitive and environmentally sustainable delivery of energy to Canada and the world. We recognize and respect the inherent and constitutionally protected rights of First Nations, Inuit and Métis. We provide energy information and analysis that informs and supports Canada’s transition towards a net zero future.

The CER’s mandate and role are detailed at Governance of the Canada Energy Regulator – Mandate, Roles and Responsibilities on the CER website.

Raison d’être: The CER regulates interprovincial and international pipelines and powerlines, offshore renewable energy projects, oil and natural gas operations in frontier areas, and energy trade.

Operating Context

The CER has an Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) Framework for managing risks. ERM is a holistic approach to identifying, assessing, preparing for, and managing organization-wide strategic risks. By providing a framework to identify enterprise-level risk events, ERM enables management to consider risks that might stand in the way of organizational success and identify mitigations to these risks.

In 2026-27, the CER will mitigate risks related to:

  • Industry safety: There is a risk of the occurrence of a high consequence event involving CER-regulated infrastructure resulting in significant harm to people, property, or the environment.
  • Indigenous Rights/Consultation: There is a risk that the CER fails, through its consultation, engagement and oversight of regulated industry, to adequately address, avoid or minimize impacts of CER-regulated facilities on the rights and interests of Indigenous Peoples leading to loss of confidence and/or trust in the CER.
  • Workforce: There is a risk that the CER is unable to adapt its management practices and culture to effectively mobilize and include diverse groups of people and teams and/or have appropriate financial resources to deliver expected program outcomes and respond to changing needs and priorities.
  • Cybersecurity Breach to CER Systems: There is a risk of a cybersecurity breach to CER systems that would lead to unauthorized disclosure of protected CER data; unauthorized alteration or destruction of CER data, IT systems and digital services; and/or disruption of CER systems and inability to carry out daily operations to fulfill its mandate.
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