Pre-application Meetings – Guidance Notes

Pre-application Meetings – Guidance Notes [PDF 599 KB]

1. Introduction
2. Purpose of the Guidance Notes
3. Objectives of Pre-application Meetings
4. Request a Meeting
5. Pre-reading Materials
6. Preparation for a Meeting
7. Content of Pre-application Meeting
8. Participants
9. After a Meeting
10. Appendices

1. Introduction

The Canada Energy Regulator (CER) is committed to ensuring that our prospective applicants are provided with opportunities to fully understand the CER’s processes. Pre-application meetings between prospective applicants and CER staff are one of the options we offer to promote a better understanding of the CER’s application process and regulatory requirements. Pre-application meetings give everyone the opportunity to:

• Share process information and establish contacts;
• Discuss filing requirements; and
• Identify resources.

We also find that these meetings can lead to more complete applications, which facilitates the review process and improves response times.

To assist prospective applicants in determining whether a pre-application meeting would be beneficial, the CER has prepared these Pre-application Meeting Guidance Notes, which includes an applicant checklist in Appendix 1.

2. Purpose of the Guidance Notes

The intent of the Guidance Notes is to assist prospective applicants to determine whether and when a meeting with CER staff would be beneficial. The Guidance Notes provide details on the objectives of pre-applications meetings, the steps that should be taken to request a meeting, the content and who should participate in a pre-application meeting with CER staff.

3. Objectives of Pre-application Meetings

Pre-application meetings are held to assist a prospective applicant to gain a better understanding of application processes and regulatory requirements, and to facilitate the application review process.

While respecting natural justice principles and the CER’s Code of Conduct for its employees, there are a number of matters that can appropriately be addressed through pre-application meetings. These include the following:

• Share Process Information and Establish Contacts: A prospective applicant can obtain information regarding CER processes and associated typical timelines for processing of an application.^Footnote 1 The meeting may also serve to identify appropriate contacts at the CER for further procedural and timing enquiries or updates. Accordingly, a pre-application meeting could be requested to discuss CER processes or where an application might involve:
  • Matters considered non-routine or new to the applicant;
  • Anticipated engineering, environmental, commercial or policy issues of significant scope, number or complexity; and
  • Timing sensitivities such as construction windows or timing of baseline studies

• In some cases, this process may be modified to be more responsive to the needs of your specific pre-application. Please discuss application-specific details with the appropriate Director.

• Filing Requirements: CER staff may direct a prospective applicant to the Filing Manual, applicable CER precedent and other policies or guidelines to provide guidance regarding elements of an application and associated information requirements.
• Identify Resources: The CER can be advised of significant elements of the application, which may assist the CER in planning staff resources or agency coordination requirements. Such information may also assist CER staff in identifying or suggesting potential options for alternative dispute resolution. The CER can also be advised of significant pre-application activities involving third parties (e.g. public and stakeholder consultation initiatives, discussions with other government departments, etc.).

The purpose of a pre-application meeting is not to promote the project or, beyond a short project description, discuss the need for the project.

4. Request a Meeting

The CER recommends that pre-application meetings be requested early in the preparation phase of an application. Direction to applicable requirements, guidance, CER precedents, and information on CER processes and associated typical timelines may be of most assistance at that time. When requesting a meeting, a prospective applicant must identify the objectives of the meeting and provide sufficient detail regarding the proposed application to allow the CER to consider whether the meeting and proposed timing is appropriate. The request should be made in a timely manner to facilitate such consideration and to permit CER staff to properly prepare for the meeting. It is suggested that the request be made a minimum of ten days prior to the meeting date.

Prospective applicants are welcome to contact the applicable Director directly to request a pre-application meeting. If you are not sure who is accountable for handling your application, please call 403-292-4800 or toll free at 1-800-899-1265.

You will be able to discuss with the Director whether and when it would be appropriate to have a meeting based on the proposed meeting objectives.

5. Preparation for a Meeting

Prior to requesting and attending a meeting with CER staff, it is recommended that the prospective applicant review the relevant sections of the Canadian Energy Regulator Act (CER Act); CER Early Engagement Guide; the Filing Manual; the Electricity Filing Manual; the CER’s Circumstances for Excluding Periods from Time Limits Regulations, CER Time Limits and Service Standards the Rules of Practice and Procedure; the Canadian Energy Regulator Onshore Pipeline Regulations (OPR); the Electricity Regulations; the Cost Recovery Regulations; and other relevant regulations, guidelines or policies. These documents, as well as other helpful materials, can be found on the CER web site, or through the CER's library.^Footnote 2 This preparation will help the applicant or other party to gain a better understanding of CER processes and the type of information required when an application is filed.

The prospective applicant should also consult the Physical Activities Regulations and whether the project may be a designated project subject to the Impact Assessment Act and the CER Act. If this may be the case, the CER will notify staff at the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada to hold a joint pre-application meeting with the prospective applicant.

6. Preparation for a Meeting

It is recommended that the prospective applicant prepare for the meeting by reviewing the relevant guidance documents, and legal and regulatory requirements.

Prior to the meeting, an agenda is prepared by the prospective applicant in collaboration with a CER Director. The agenda should include the names, roles and responsibilities, and email addresses of the attendees, and be constructed from the template in Appendix 2.

The prospective applicant must submit any materials they intend to present at the meeting to the CER a minimum of three days before the meeting.

Note that once an application has been filed with the CER, all communication with CER staff should be directed through Legal Services or the Office of the Secretary.

7. Content of Pre-application Meeting

The prospective applicant must be prepared to leave copies of documents presented at the pre-application meeting with CER staff at the conclusion of the meeting, as all materials presented at a pre-application meeting will be retained by the CER and available to the public upon request.

Examples of information that may be presented and left with the CER include:

• Project overview and scope;
• Purpose of the project;
• Timing of the application and proposed construction schedule;
• Maps at an appropriate scale (e.g., topographical, access, human use, etc.) or photos illustrating environmental settings; and
• Hard copies of presentations (e.g., PowerPoint, etc.)

The above information will assist CER staff in directing the prospective applicant to the relevant sections of the Filing Manual/Electricity Filing Manual, CER precedent, or other relevant guidance documents. The information may also assist the CER in better appreciating internal resource issues that may be associated with the filing.

CER staff could also verify that the prospective applicant is aware of other regulatory processes, such as those associated with the Impact Assessment Act, which may have an impact on the proposed application.

CER staff should also provide perspective applicants new to CER jurisdiction a summary of how the CER cost recovery is executed in accordance with the Cost Recovery Regulations. For more information on cost recovery, please refer to the CER website on Cost Recovery.

In accordance with natural justice principles and the CER’s Code of Conduct for its employees, CER staff cannot provide the regulated company or the prospective applicant with any specific guidance on the proposed project or any substantive issues.

8. Participants

It may be helpful to have the applicant’s project manager or another representative familiar with the project present the information to CER staff. Supporting personnel may include specialists in:

• engineering and technical issues;
• environmental and socio-economic matters;
• health and safety;
• Indigenous, landowner and public consultations;
• tolls and tariffs, finance and economics;
• market and supply issues; and
• regulatory and community affairs

It may also be helpful for the regulated company or the prospective applicant to have its legal counsel present at the meeting.

CER staff present at the pre-application meeting will generally include the Director accountable for the proposed project, CER legal counsel and appropriate CER specialists. Note that CER staff attending such meeting may or may not be assigned to work on the application once it is filed.

9. After a Meeting

Pre-application meeting notes recorded by CER staff will be forwarded to the prospective applicant for review (see template in Appendix 3). Any discrepancies found between the prospective applicant’s meeting notes and the CER’s, as well as any other comments, are to be brought to the attention of the meeting chairperson. The finalized meeting notes will be sent to the prospective applicant within thirty days of the pre- application meeting.

Meeting notes and any other documentation provided at the meeting would be retained by the CER and available to the public upon request.

10. Appendices

• Appendix 1: Prospective Applicant Checklist
• Appendix 2: Agenda Template
• Appendix 3: Meeting Notes Template

Appendix 1: Prospective Applicant Checklist

This checklist is intended to aid the prospective applicant follow the procedure outlined in these notes. Any questions should be addressed to the CER Director responsible for the application.

Appendix 2: Agenda Template

Appendix 3: Meeting Notes Template

Reviewed by:

Legal Counsel
Prospective Applicant
Legal Counsel (after sent to prospective applicant)

Date modified:

2024-02-15