Log in or register
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn

ARTICLE · 20 JULY 2026

How Drones Are Transforming Canada’s Energy Sector And What Operators Need To Know

MLT Aikins LLP
MLT Aikins LLP
Contributor
MLT Aikins LLP

MLT Aikins LLP

FIRM OVERVIEW MLT Aikins is a full-service business law firm of more than 375 lawyers with a deep...

View firm profile
Explore more from MLT Aikins LLP

Drones are revolutionizing Canada's energy sector, enabling pipeline inspections, facility monitoring, and environmental assessments at unprecedented scale. As the 2025 amendments to Canadian Aviation Regulations unlock beyond visual line-of-sight operations, energy operators must navigate an increasingly complex landscape of regulatory compliance, privacy obligations, and insurance requirements to harness this transformative technology effectively.

CanadaEnergy and Natural Resources
Matthew Douglas
Matthew Douglas
Erika Carrasco
Erika Carrasco
Thomas Collopy
Thomas Collopy
Randy Brunet
Randy Brunet
Author LinkedIn connections

Drones, or remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS), are no longer a novelty in Canada’s energy sector. From pipeline patrols spanning hundreds of kilometers to thermal inspection of offshore platforms and wind turbines, energy companies across Canada are deploying RPAS to improve safety, reduce costs and access data that was previously impractical to obtain.

As discussed in our previous Insight, Flying into the future: What drone regulation changes mean for Canadians, the 2025 amendments to the Canadian Aviation Regulations (the 2025 RPAS Regulations) represent a watershed moment, particularly for energy operators in Canada, by enabling beyond visual line-of-sight (BVLOS) operations without the need for case-by-case Special Flight Operations Certificates (SFOC). However, with expanded operational capability comes an increasingly complex web of regulatory, privacy and insurance considerations.

We operate a free-to-view policy, asking only that you register in order to read all of our content. Please login or register to view the rest of this article.

Register for freeORLog in

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.

View source

Related Articles

Legal Intelligence Newsletters: sign up for the latest legal and regulatory news on your chosen topics

Read more about

Related Comparative Guides

See more popular content from

Article

Powering Up: Grid Access, Strategic Screening And Canada’s Emerging Data Centre Regimes

Canada is rapidly becoming a key destination for data centre investment, fueled by artificial intelligence and cloud computing growth. However, this expansion places unprecedented demands on electricity grids, water resources, and local communities. As federal and provincial governments introduce new frameworks to manage these resource challenges, developers and investors must navigate an increasingly complex landscape where power strategy...
CanadaEnergy and Natural Resources
McMillan LLP
McMillan LLP
Article

Data Centre West 2026: Alberta's Digital Infrastructure Moment Has Arrived

Alberta's data centre sector has evolved from speculative interest into billions in committed investment, supported by a new regulatory framework and hyperscale commitments from Meta and AWS. However, grid capacity constraints, power procurement challenges, unresolved federal copyright issues affecting AI training workloads, and community concerns about environmental impacts present significant obstacles that require continued collaboration between industry, government, and regulators.
CanadaEnergy and Natural Resources
Bennett Jones LLP
Bennett Jones LLP
Article

Government Of Canada Makes Significant Changes To Energy Project Approvals Process

On September 3, the Government of Canada published amendments removing seven types of energy projects from the Physical Activities Regulations (the Project List) under the Impact Assessment Act (IAA). As a result, these types of projects will no longer be subject to the IAA but will continue to be regulated by the Canada Energy Regulator Act (CER Act) or applicable provincial environmental assessment regimes.
CanadaEnergy and Natural Resources
Torys
Torys
Article

Digging Deeper: Canadian Mining Sector Tax Update

Canada’s mining sector is at an important inflection point. Against a backdrop of growing global demand for critical minerals and increased competition for investment capital, the Canadian federal government has recently introduced a series of tax measures designed to encourage investment and strengthen the competitiveness of Canada’s mining industry. For investors, these measures may meaningfully influence the after-tax economics of projects and financing structures across the mining value chain.
CanadaEnergy and Natural Resources
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
Article

Government Of Canada Reduces The Scope Of The Project List Under The Impact Assessment Act

The Government of Canada has amended the Physical Activities Regulations, removing certain intraprovincial energy projects and facilities regulated by the Canada Energy Regulator from the federal Impact Assessment Act's Project List. This regulatory change eliminates automatic federal oversight for fossil fuel-fired power plants and specific oil sands facilities, while transferring assessment responsibilities for interprovincial pipelines and transmission lines to the Canada Energy Regulator, potentially re
CanadaEnergy and Natural Resources
Bennett Jones LLP
Bennett Jones LLP
Article

New Churchill Falls Agreement: Key Terms For Newfoundland And Labrador, Québec And Canadian Power Markets

Newfoundland and Labrador's House of Assembly has approved a landmark definitive cooperation and implementation agreement that would replace the 1969 Churchill Falls Power Contract, pair the redevelopment of Churchill Falls with the Gull Island project, and establish new transmission pathways through Québec. The agreement faces political uncertainty in Québec ahead of the October 2026 provincial election...
CanadaEnergy and Natural Resources
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
Article

AI Data Centres In Canada: Legal And Regulatory Considerations For Developers And Investors Looking To Build

Developing AI data centres in Canada requires navigating complex corporate structuring, financing arrangements, regulatory approvals, energy supply agreements, real estate considerations, environmental permitting, and stakeholder engagement across multiple jurisdictions. This comprehensive guide examines the legal and regulatory frameworks governing the physical infrastructure side of data centre development, from site selection and power procurement to Indigenous consultation and municipal approvals.
CanadaEnergy and Natural Resources
MLT Aikins LLP
MLT Aikins LLP
Article

President Trump Announces U.S. Counter-tariffs On Canada: Are They Lawful?

President Trump has invoked Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930 to impose new counter-tariffs on Canadian goods including dairy, alcohol, motorcycles, and metal products. The legality of this rarely-used statutory provision remains untested in court, raising questions about presidential tariff authority under the U.S. Constitution. Legal scholars debate whether Section 338 has been superseded by later trade legislation, while the administration argues Canada's retaliatory measures constitute discriminator
GlobalInternational Law
MLT Aikins LLP
MLT Aikins LLP
Article

Amendments Streamline Project List Under Impact Assessment Act

The Government of Canada has amended regulations under the Impact Assessment Act to streamline environmental reviews for major infrastructure projects, particularly interprovincial pipelines. These changes shift regulatory responsibility for certain energy projects to the Canada Energy Regulator while removing other project types from federal review following the Supreme Court's 2024 constitutional ruling.
CanadaEnvironment
MLT Aikins LLP
MLT Aikins LLP
Article

Permit Me To Explain: Bill C-39’s Plan To Build Canada Faster

The Canadian government has introduced Bill C-39, the Building Canada Strong Act, proposing to compress federal project approval timelines from five years to one year through consolidated permitting and streamlined processes. The legislation also modernizes transportation infrastructure through National Trade Corridors and reforms labour relations by strengthening collective bargaining while clarifying ministerial powers to intervene in work stoppages.
CanadaGovernment, Public Sector
MLT Aikins LLP
MLT Aikins LLP
Article

AI Data Centres In Canada: Legal And Regulatory Considerations For Developers And Investors Looking To Build

Developing AI data centres in Canada requires navigating complex corporate structuring, financing arrangements, regulatory approvals, energy supply agreements, real estate considerations, environmental permitting, and stakeholder engagement across multiple jurisdictions. This comprehensive guide examines the legal and regulatory frameworks governing the physical infrastructure side of data centre development, from site selection and power procurement to Indigenous consultation and municipal approvals.
CanadaEnergy and Natural Resources
MLT Aikins LLP
MLT Aikins LLP
Article

Not Beyond Reproach: Alberta Court Confirms Jurisdiction Over Alberta Energy Regulator

The Alberta Court of King's Bench has confirmed its jurisdiction to grant injunctive relief against the Alberta Energy Regulator despite a broadly worded statutory privative clause. This landmark decision, arising from Sumerian Oil & Gas's application to stay a suspension order affecting approximately 900 wells, represents one of the first considerations of the Supreme Court of Canada's recent Democracy Watch ruling and may significantly impact future disputes involving AER orders.
CanadaLitigation, Mediation & Arbitration
MLT Aikins LLP
MLT Aikins LLP