Legislative, Regulatory & Legal

New forecasts show dramatically lower expectations for 2020 capital spending in the oil and gas sector both nationally and in Alberta, the province that produces 65% of the country's natural gas and 82% of its oil.

The Canadian government is moving ahead with new rules it says will speed up approvals for exploratory oil and gas drilling off the east coast of Newfoundland, but conservation groups are warning the changes undermine environmental protections.Natural Resources Minister Seamus O'Regan issued a statement last week saying the new regulation will improve the efficiency of assessments while upholding the “highest standards'' of environmental protection.“Our government recognizes that Newfoundland and Labrador's ability to rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic will depend largely on a strong, resilient and innovative offshore,'' O'Regan said.Three environmental groups have launched a federal court challenge, arguing exploratory drilling off Newfoundland will now be green-lit without proper environmental assessments.The Ecology Action Centre, Sierra Club Canada Foundation and World Wildlife Fund Canada argued earlier this month that the science behind the new “regional assessment'' or RA process is flawed.Lawyer James Gunvaldsen-Klaassen, whose firm Ecojustice is representing the groups, argued that the regulation “flies in the face'' of the purpose of environmental scrutiny under the new Impact Assessment Act.The court later decided the case can proceed to a judicial review, but denied the group's request for an injunction.“The federal government stated that it intended to use the flawed RA and a loophole in the ...

Alberta has introduced new legislation on vaping that would include a ban on anyone under 18 from using e-cigarettes.Health Minister Tyler Shandro says there is mounting evidence on the health risks of vaping and statistics show more young people in Alberta are indulging.“Strong action needs to be taken to address significant increases in youth vaping,'' Shandro said Tuesday prior to introducing the bill in the house.Shandro's ministry says that in the last five years, vaping rates among high school students has risen to 30% from eight.

For Dean Funke, getting hired at Regina's Co-op oil refinery felt like winning the lottery.

British Columbia's lowest paid workers got a pay increase Monday with a scheduled minimum wage hike at a crucial time for small businesses as they look for ways to continue operating during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Newfoundland and Labrador's government is looking for a rapid answer from Ottawa on its request for aid for the offshore oil sector in light of a quickening exodus of exploration rigs from the province.

Canada's oilfield services sector is in for “an immense amount of pain'' over at least the next year thanks to low North American oil and gas exploration activity amid a worldwide glut of cheap crude, according to a report from CIBC.Drilling and well completion companies stand to suffer the most as producers will be reluctant to reverse cuts in spending and production linked to the COVID-19 pandemic and its affect on fuel demand, the analysts warn.“There is no way to sugarcoat it.

As the coronavirus reaffirms the value of convenience stores to communities across the country, those same stores are grappling with an unprecedented upheaval to one of their core channels business: plain packaging.