Energy Regulatory

We guide clients through Canada’s complex energy regulatory landscape, helping secure approvals, manage compliance, and advance major projects with confidence.
Key Contact
Ignasiak Martin
Energy pipelines

Overview

Canada's regulatory environment is a complex web that interweaves federal and provincial bodies with local and international organizations involved in the regulatory approval process. Regulatory authorities are assuming an ever-increasing profile in business today, taking a more proactive role and gaining increasing influence over how business is conducted in Canada and around the world. Many major projects simply cannot proceed until numerous regulatory approvals are obtained. Our energy regulatory practice is set up to assist clients at local, national and international levels, and is comprised of lawyers with experience across the broad spectrum of regulated activities.

From offering strategic advice to helping clients address the daily operational regulations affecting their enterprises, our clients call on us to lead them through regulatory processes both large and small. We have extensive capabilities leading clients through complex regulatory approval processes in the energy and utilities sectors, including advising both regulatory authorities and applicants on major project developments, such as oil sands facilities, upgraders, refineries, onshore and offshore pipelines, power projects, international resource developments and real estate projects.

We are often called upon to act as competition counsel on mergers, acquisitions and amalgamations. Further, we help clients in various licensing and permitting processes and advise on all aspects of compliance with trade and market regulations.

Given the broad depth and scope of our work, we also advise on and draft new Federal and provincial legislative and regulatory policies. We have also participated in government task forces and other initiatives designed to address the regulatory relationship between government and industry.

,,They've got such good experience and depth in that group—it's a very strong energy regulatory group nationally. They've got all the areas covered and are one of the top firms in the area.,,

What Clients Say

From offering strategic advice to helping clients address the daily operational regulations affecting their enterprises, our clients call on us to lead them through regulatory processes both large and small. We have extensive capabilities leading clients through complex regulatory approval processes in the energy and utilities sectors, including advising both regulatory authorities and applicants on major project developments, such as oil sands facilities, upgraders, refineries, onshore and offshore pipelines, power projects, international resource developments and real estate projects.

We are often called upon to act as competition counsel on mergers, acquisitions and amalgamations. Further, we help clients in various licensing and permitting processes and advise on all aspects of compliance with trade and market regulations.

Given the broad depth and scope of our work, we also advise on and draft new Federal and provincial legislative and regulatory policies. We have also participated in government task forces and other initiatives designed to address the regulatory relationship between government and industry.

,,Bennett Jones have always provided excellent service and have proven to be the best at what they do in terms of regulatory expertise.,,

What Clients Say

Client Work

A large Canadian gas producer, in a large energy project in Mexico, including the analysis of Mexican constitutional issues, NAFTA and WTO rules, procurement laws and regulatory developments
Access Pipeline
in a $400-million joint venture between MEG Energy Corporation and Devon ARL Canada Corporation
BC LNG Alliance
on environmental, regulatory and Indigenous issues
RBC Dominion Securities
in an up to US$500M at-the-market program re-launch for the sale of common shares pursuant to a short-form prospectus supplement and an equity distribution agreement with Algonquin Power & Utilities
Bear Head LNG
in regulatory/environmental approvals for construction of the plant
Canadian Hydro Developers
in the development of a weir and powerhouse across the Peach River at Dunvegan, Alberta - the Dunvegan Hydroelectric Project
Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
in a reference regarding the application of the User Fees Act to the Telecommunications Fees Regulations, 1995
Carlyle/Riverstone Global Energy and Power Fund
in the fund's US$1.2-billion acquisition of EnCana Corporation's gas storage business, now known as Niska Gas Storage
Dominion Exploration Canada
in all regulatory approvals associated with a multi-well sour gas drilling program near Drayton Valley, Alberta
Emera Brunswick Pipeline Company
in a $350-million pipeline project connecting the Canaport LNG project to domestic and export markets
Encana Corporation
in the successful applications to the Energy Utilities Board for licences for 15 coalbed methane (CBM) wells, a pipeline, and a compressor addition in the Wimborne and Twining Fields
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
in the $5.2-billion offshore Hibernia Development Project
Inuvialuit Petroleum Corporation
in the development of their Mackenzie Delta rights, preparing form of Concession Agreement, and Bid Package
Mackenzie Valley Aboriginal Pipeline Group
in the negotiation and structuring of commercial agreements including ownership agreements among various aboriginal groups
Maritimes and Northeast Pipeline
in appearing before a Joint Environmental Review Panel for an international pipeline to Boston and in respect of general regulatory matters and in all subsequent facilities expansion and rate related issues
Mining Association of British Columbia
on a variety of environmental legislative matters
North West Upgrading
in all regulatory and environmental approvals associated with the construction, operation, and reclamation of a bitumen upgrader to be located near Edmonton; capital cost estimated to be approximately $4 billion
Sable Offshore Energy Project
in the Joint Environmental Review Panel hearings and regulatory matters for the development of an offshore gas project valued at $3 billion
Suncor
in the Trans-Northern Pipelines application to the National Energy Board regarding its petroleum products pipeline system
Synenco Energy
in the approximately $105-million negotiation and execution of a series of agreements related to SinoCanada Petroleum Corporation's acquisition of a 40-percent interest in the Northern Lights Oil Sands Project
Synenco Energy
as lead counsel for all regulatory and environmental approvals associated with the construction, operation and reclamation of the oil sands mine and extraction facility near Fort McMurray, Alberta
Undisclosed client
in actions as lead counsel for all regulatory and environmental approvals associated with the construction, operation, and reclamation of a multi-billion-dollar SAGD facility associated ...
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Undisclosed client
in counsel for regulatory and environmental approvals associated with the decommissioning, remediation, and reclamation of a nuclear facility
Undisclosed client
in obtaining approvals for sulphur forming and handling facility, in excess of $30 million
Undisclosed client
in regulatory and environmental approvals associated with significant modifications to a major sour gas processing facility
Undisclosed client
in obtaining approvals for various unconventional gas field developments in Alberta, including coalbed methane from the Horseshoe Canyon and Mannville formations
CST Canada Coal
in its acquisition of coal assets of Grande Cache Coal LP and Grande Cache Coal Corporation for aggregate consideration of approximately USD$433.9 million
Alberta Municipal Services Corporation
in reorganization of the MuniFunds program, an aggregated investment service with over $25 million invested and the registration of AMSC as an investment fund manager with the Alberta Securities Commission
Assisted a widely held private business in a reorganization pursuant to a plan of arrangement
ATCO Gas and Pipelines
in its successful appeal from an Alberta Energy and Utilities Board Order purporting to require it to hold the proceeds of sale of an asset in a deferral account
ATCO Electric
in negotiation and structuring of hedge transactions regarding Regulated Rate Option customer load in Alberta
ATCO Gas and Pipeline
in its successful appeals of three related Board Decisions regarding the ability of the regulator to assert jurisdiction over its carbon gas storage facilities and related production properties
ATCO
in the disposition of ATCO I-Tek and ATCO's Australian IT operations to affiliates of Wipro for aggregate sale proceeds of approximately $210 million
ATCO
in the negotiation, structuring and other commercial matters relating to ATCO entering into a strategic alliance with Wipro including 10-year master service agreements governing the ...
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Grupo Modelo
in the proposed acquisition by Anheuser-Busch InBev of the remaining stake in Grupo Modelo that it does not already own for approximately US$20.1 billion
Darling International
in its acquisition of all the assets of Rothsay, a division of Maple Leaf Foods Inc., for approximately $645 million
Korea National Oil Corporation
in its acquisition of Harvest Energy Trust for approximately $4.1 billion
One Equity Partners and Systagenix Wound Management
in the purchase of Ethicon's (a Johnson & Johnson company) professional wound care business
Pipeworx
in the sale of all of the shares in the capital of Pipeworx to PLH Group (a US-based portfolio company of Energy Capital Partners, a US private equity firm), by way of an exempt takeover bid
Research In Motion Limited
in its $150-million acquisition of Certicom Corp
Interair/Fun Sun
in its acquisition by Thomas Cook Group PLC for approximately $114 million
Shell Canada Products
in its regulatory, environmental, aboriginal and land matters regarding a proposed refinery project
Statoil Canada
in the acquisition by PTTEP Canada of the remaining 60% ownership interest in the Thornbury, Hangingstone and South Leismer oil sands areas in exchange for Statoil's 40% stake in the ...
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Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation
as successful appellants on a motion for leave to appeal an Order of the Manitoba Public Utilities Board related to the Board's jurisdiction. Manitoba Public Insurance Corp. v. Public Utilities Board, 2011 MBCA 87
Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation
as successful respondent in a stated case by the Manitoba Public Utilities Board, in which the Board sought a declaration that it has the jurisdiction to require the disclosure of ...
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VimpelCom
in its sale process and disposition of their debt and equity interests in the Globalive group of companies in Canada, including Globalive Wireless Management Corp. (WIND Mobile), including ...
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Recognitions

Chambers Canada
Band 1, Energy: Oil & Gas
Band 2, Energy & Natural Resources: Mining
Band 3, Energy: Power
Chambers Global
Band 1, Energy: Oil & Gas
Band 2, Energy Sector (International & Cross Border); Mining (International & Cross Border)
Band 3, Energy: Power
Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory
Most Frequently Recommended, Energy (Electricity) (Calgary)
Consistently Recommended, Energy (Electricity) (Vancouver)
Most Frequently Recommended, Energy (Oil & Gas) (Calgary, Toronto and Vancouver)
Ignasiak Martin

Martin Ignasiak KC

Partner  •   Head of Energy Regulatory Practice

At the centre of market-shaping deals and high-stakes disputes, Bennett Jones delivers clarity, strategy and results. Our cross-border teams turn complexity into progress, always focused on what drives your success.

Your Guide to Legal Solutions: Energy Regulatory

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The Bennett Jones Story

At Bennett Jones, legal solutions are our starting point. What drives us forward is knowing our clients inside and out—their ambitions, obstacles and success metrics.

For more than a century, we have shaped outcomes that matter in business, in law and in the broader Canadian landscape. And our commitment extends beyond legal matters: we invest deeply in the communities in which we live and work.