Bill 2, Responsible Energy Development Act: The Creation Of A Single Energy Regulator In Alberta

In the July 2012 edition of this Oil and Gas Bulletin, the provincial regulatory streamlining reforms proposed under the Regulatory Enhancement Project were discussed, with a focus on the appointment of a single energy regulator. That article may be found at http://www.blg.com/en/home/publications/Documents/publication_3089.pdf.

On October 24, 2012, in what has been referred to as a "bold step that will improve the energy regulation system for landowners, industry and the environment", and "laying the foundation for the next 50 years of responsible energy development in the province"¹, Bill 2, Responsible Energy Development Act ("Bill 2"), received first reading in the Alberta Legislature. If passed, Bill 2 will create a single provincial regulator for upstream oil, gas, oil sands and coal development ("Energy Developments"), which had been one of 6 recommendations made by the Regulatory Enhancement Task Force (the "Task Force") in its second of 3 reports, dated