The province says that it is modernizing and strengthening its regulatory oversight of oil and gas pipeline infrastructures. Energy and Resources Minister Bronwyn Eyre says it delivers on the government’s promise in 2017 to ensure the people and the environment are protected to the highest standards. She says the changes will also provide more efficiency and regulatory certainty for the oil and gas sector. The new act provides for retroactive licensing of about 80 thousand flowlines, and more stringent scrutiny of applications, according to the government, at higher-risk locations such as waterways.

The government says this is also the first system of its kind in Canada to adopt an entirely electronic registry of pipeline licensing and administration. The province says the system will also streamline the review of applications and reduce the time needed for routine approvals. The new regulations are already in effect.