Energy Law - Canada

Canada

See also: Alberta electricity policy and Ontario electricity policy

Canada has an extensive energy law, both through the federation and the provinces, especially Alberta. These include:

• Alternative Fuels Act ( 1995, c. 20 )
• Cooperative Energy Act ( 1980-81-82-83, c. 108 )
• Energy Administration Act ( R.S., 1985, c. E-6 )
• Energy Monitoring Act ( R.S., 1985, c. E-8 )
• Nuclear Energy Act ( R.S., 1985, c. A-16 )
• Canada Oil and Gas Operations Act ( R.S., 1985, c. O-7 )
• Canada Petroleum Resources Act ( 1985, c. 36 (2nd Supp.) )
• National Energy Board Act ( R.S., 1985, c. N-7 )
• Electricity and Gas Inspection Act ( R.S., 1985, c. E-4 )

There is some academic interest in the energy law of Canada, with looseleaf periodical services, monographs, and consultation with lawyers specializing in that practice, available.

The Supreme Court of Canada has had issued some Canadian energy case law.

Canada's energy laws are so extensive and complicated in large part because of its government-owned energy resources:

The oil sands are gold not only for the oil companies, but also for Alberta's provincial government, which owns the mineral rights to virtually all the land and has encouraged the industry for three-quarters of a century. —Robert Kunzig, National Geographic, March 2009, p. 49 (emphasis in original)

Canada and the Quebec province also own extensive hydroelectric dam facilities, which have generated not only power but controversy.