Regulatory Corner - September 2024

Ontario – Province Announces Energy Procurement Plans

On August 28, 2024 Ontario’s Minister of Energy and Electrification announced that driven by sharply increasing needs for electricity, Ontario will be embarking upon the largest energy procurement in the Province’s history. Ontario plans to acquire up to 5,000 megawatts (MW) of energy through new procurement in the near future.

Included in the proposed energy supply mix is a commitment to additional hydroelectric power which may have the effect of either driving new dam construction or redevelopment of existing dams.

Further information is available at: Province Launches Largest Competitive Energy Procurement in Ontario History | Ontario Newsroom

 

British Columbia – Consultation on Guidelines for Invasive Investigation Plans and Instrumentation Records

The B.C. Dam Safety Program has launched consultation on a review of draft Guidelines for Invasive Investigation Plans and Instrumentation Records.  Consultation on the draft document is currently underway and comments may be submitted directly to the Dam Safety Program at dam.safety@gov.bc.ca

The draft document is available at: guideline_-_iip_and_instrumentation_record_-_draft.pdf (gov.bc.ca)

 

British Columbia – Dam Safety Program 2023/24 Annual Report

The 2023/24 Annual Dam Safety Report produced by the Province’s Dam Safety Program of the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship has been released.  The Province deserves considerable credit for being a national regulatory leader in preparing and releasing such annual reports, as part of its broader commitment to dam safety.

The Report is available at: Dam Safety Program annual reports - Province of British Columbia (gov.bc.ca)

 

Quebec – Bill 63 - Proposed Amendments to the Mining Act

On May 28, 2024, the Quebec government introduced a number of proposed legislative amendments to the Mining Act.

Of interest to the CDA mining dam community are proposed amendments requiring that financial compensation be required to ensure that follow-up and maintenance work is carried out on public lands once restoration is carried out by the mining companies.

Information on Bill 63 is available at: Bill 63, An Act to amend the Mining Act and other provisions - National Assembly of Québec (assnat.qc.ca)