Open AccessEnergy Superpower in Waiting: New Pipeline Developments in Canada, Social Licence, and Recent Federal Energy Reforms
Author(s) -
Peter J. Forrester,
Kent Howie,
Alan Ross
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
alberta law review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1925-8356
pISSN - 0002-4821
DOI - 10.29173/alr408
Subject(s) - pipeline (software) , stakeholder , context (archaeology) , superpower , politics , energy (signal processing) , legislation , public administration , business , political science , economics , public relations , law , engineering , mechanical engineering , paleontology , biology , statistics , mathematics
A growing lack of public confidence in governmental regulation of business has created a climate in which industry must go beyond obtaining mere regulatory approvals for new projects: a “social licence” must also be acquired from stakeholder groups. This article explores the concept of social licence in the context of current pipeline project proposals. Governments play a significant role in this debate, as social licence is intertwined with the Canadian regulatory scheme. The authors address different models of regulatory reform, and explore how recent federal amendments have altered the social licence and regulatory landscape.