ARCHIVED – ARCHIVED – National Energy Board – 2017–18 Departmental Results Report

ISSN 2560-9742

Copyright/Permission to Reproduce

Table of contents

• Message from the Chair and CEO
• Results at a glance
• Raison d’être, mandate and role: who we are and what we do
  • Raison d’être
  • Mandate and role
• Operating context and key risks
  • Operating context
  • Key risks
• Results: what we achieved
  • Core Responsibilities
    • Energy Adjudication
    • Safety and Environmental Oversight
    • Energy Information
    • Engagement
    • Internal Services
• Analysis of trends in spending and human resources
  • Actual expenditures
  • Actual human resources
  • Expenditures by vote
  • Government of Canada spending and activities
    • Financial statements
    • Financial statements highlights
• Supplementary information
  • Corporate information
    • Organizational profile
    • Reporting framework
  • Supporting information on the Program Inventory
  • Supplementary information tables
  • Federal tax expenditures
  • Organizational contact information
• Appendix: definitions

Message from the Chair and CEO

The National Energy Board (NEB) is Canada’s federal energy regulator. Canadians count on us to keep them safe, to protect the environment, to prevent market inefficiencies and to listen to what they have to say, so that we can make informed decisions and recommendations in the Canadian public interest.

We do this using a systemic approach that looks at the performance of individual companies, and then uses the aggregate data and evidence to assess the performance of the industry as a whole.

As a part of our commitment to delivering effective and efficient regulatory oversight, we share information and operate transparently, using the feedback and information we receive to drive continual improvements. This aspect of our work is critical, as the context of energy development and regulation in Canada is evolving at unprecedented speed.

The past year has provided the NEB with many opportunities and challenges. The on-going debate about energy infrastructure development, and related developments in Indigenous consultation and law, illustrate clearly that our processes must continue to evolve to answer to the expectations of Canadians. The NEB has actively sought new ideas to transform how we work. We have completed a full-year cycle under our Departmental Results Framework^{Footnote 1} (DRF) performance reporting, which has enabled a strategic and focused conversation within the NEB about how to address issues we see emerging, and to improve our own performance. As a result, we have already begun to strengthen engagement with Indigenous Peoples, landowners and municipal organizations. We are employing innovative techniques to increase accessibility and participation in our adjudication processes, and drive transparency and effectiveness in our oversight activities. We continue to provide Canadians with high-quality, comprehensive energy information.

The greatest asset the NEB has is the sum of our experience: what we know and learn from our analysis of the root causes of past incidents; the trends and issues we see in the data we hold about our performance and the performance of industry; and our understanding of the systemic issues and “big picture” of Canada’s energy system.

We use that asset to deliver better outcomes for Canadians. We assess and improve our regulatory framework, requirements and performance. We share and discuss our knowledge with Indigenous Peoples, communities, industry, and with other regulators both in Canada and internationally. We look for new ways to approach issues and improve processes.

Looking ahead, we know there is still much more work to be done, and we are confident that, guided by data, information, stakeholder feedback and collaboration with Indigenous Peoples, the NEB is up to the task. We look forward to a modernization that will further strengthen and enhance our regulatory system. The staff and Board Members of the NEB will continue to embrace the responsibility of being Canada’s energy regulator with dedication, passion and commitment to continual improvement of our regulatory oversight on behalf of Canadians.

C. Peter Watson, P.Eng., FCAE