2025–26 Annual Report of the Commission of the Canada Energy Regulator

Copyright/Permission to Reproduce

ISSN 2563-3171

Table of Contents

• 2025-26 Message from the Lead Commissioner
• Roles and Work of the Commission
• Looking Ahead
• Commission Decisions and Recommendations
• Appendix A: Commissioner Biographies
• Appendix B: Application Activity
• Appendix C: Summary of Released Commission Decisions, Recommendations and In Progress Hearing Applications
• Appendix D: Time Limits
• Appendix E: Leave to Open Orders Issued
• Appendix F: Commission Safety and Environment Oversight Orders and Directions
• Appendix G: Post-Approval Condition Compliance Filings
• Appendix H: Compensation and Apportionment of Costs Applications
• Appendix I: Abandonment Funding
• Appendix J: Financial Resources Requirements

2025-26 Message from the Lead Commissioner

On behalf of the Commission of the Canada Energy Regulator (CER), I am pleased to submit to the Honourable Tim Hodgson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, and to Canadians, our 2025-26 Annual Report.

The Canadian Energy Regulator Act (CER Act) establishes the Commission of the Canada Energy Regulator and sets its mandate to exercise adjudicative functions in an independent manner. As required under section 36 of the CER Act, this report is a full-year account of the Commission’s 2025-26 activities in fulfilling its mandate pursuant to governing legislation, including the CER Act, the Canada Oil and Gas Operations Act (COGOA), and the Canada Petroleum Resources Act (CPRA), among others.

During the 2025-26 year, the Commission made decisions on 605 applications and other matters. These decisions range from simple export permits and minor facilities changes to complex toll hearings and new major pipeline construction, and a wide range of matters in between.

I am proud of my colleagues’ efforts this year across all of our decisions, and in particular their hard work on two lengthy hearing processes for CER Act section 183 applications. These led to Commission recommendations for the Pouce Coupé Pipe Line Ltd. Taylor to Gordondale Pipeline Project and the Westcoast Energy GP Inc. Sunrise Expansion Program. Both projects have subsequently received cabinet approval. Additionally, the Commission had an active year in considering tolls, tariffs, and export matters, as well as long-term export applications as part of our economic regulation mandate.

I am especially pleased with the initiatives we launched this year to increase hearing efficiency, most notably by reducing the time required to determine the completeness of applications, allowing Commission hearing processes to begin sooner. The Commission’s work in this regard leaves us well positioned to play our part in delivering on the Government of Canada’s goals for the years ahead with respect to the industry we regulate.

I would like to thank everyone involved in these achievements and I look forward to further progress in the year ahead.

Mark Watton, Lead Commissioner
Canada Energy Regulator

Date modified:

2026-08-13