OTTAWA – A timeline of important dates in the federal government’s 2016 energy and climate policy making:
Jan. 27 — Natural Resources Minister Jim Carr and Environment Minister Catherine McKenna announce a new, interim policy for major resource project approvals that includes assessing upstream GHG emissions and wider consultations with indigenous peoples.
March 3 — First ministers agree in Vancouver to set up four working groups on climate policy that will report back by September on policy options for a pan-Canadian climate plan.
May 17 — Carr names a three-person panel to consult with communities along Kinder Morgan’s proposed expansion route for its Trans Mountain heavy oil pipeline from Alberta to the Westridge marine terminal in Burnaby, B.C.
May 19 — The National Energy Board approves, with 157 conditions, the proposal to expand the Trans Mountain pipeline to 890,000 barrels per day capacity.
Early June — Pacific NorthWest LNG owned by Malaysian company Petronas expected to submit final application for a Prince Rupert export terminal to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency.
Sept. 15-30 — Carr anticipates cabinet making a decision on the Pacific NorthWest LNG export terminal application.
Oct. 1 — Federal, provincial and territorial ministers are to have reviewed the climate policy working group reports and provided policy recommendations to their respective premiers in preparation for another first ministers meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, date to be determined, at which Canada will announce its plan for meeting its 2030 Paris climate commitments.
Nov. 1 — Deadline for a final report from the three-member panel doing consultations on the Trans Mountain expansion.
Dec. 19 — Deadline for cabinet to make a decision on Trans Mountain.