Bulk Oil Cargo Fee Changes and Notices

Summary#

This Canada Gazette Part I notice collects several government items published on February 20, 2021. It announces a few law cleanups, changes to who is authorized as fingerprint examiners, new and amended per‑tonne bulk oil cargo fees for eastern and western Canada (including a new Trans Mountain fee), approval for an insurer to operate in Canada, and a call for applications to many federal appointments.

What it does#

• Statutes Repeal Act: Lists provisions that were repealed on December 31, 2020, including parts of the Marine Liability Act, a 2005 amendment related to financial institutions, and several provisions of the Balanced Refugee Reform Act.
• Fingerprint examiner designations and revocations: Names people at local police forces who were newly designated or had their designation revoked. The notices affect the Brockville Police Service, Halifax Regional Police Service, Port Moody Police Department, Edmonton Police Service, Victoria Police Department, and Winnipeg Police Service.
• Transport Canada — Eastern Canada (ECRC) bulk oil cargo fees (BOCF): Amends the per‑tonne fees charged through Eastern Canada Response Corporation Ltd. for oil loaded or unloaded at oil handling facilities in its coverage area. Key rates (per tonne, plus taxes):
  • Quebec/Maritimes (oil other than asphalt): 32.0¢ from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021; 35.0¢ from January 1, 2022. Asphalt: 16.0¢ (2021) and 17.5¢ (2022).
  • Newfoundland (oil other than asphalt): 9.7¢ (2021) and 9.4¢ (2022). Asphalt: 4.85¢ (2021) and 4.7¢ (2022).
  • Great Lakes (oil other than asphalt): 70.0¢ (2021) and 78.0¢ (2022). Asphalt: 35.0¢ (2021) and 39.0¢ (2022).
  • Interested parties were invited to request information, comment, or file objections within 30 days after publication.
• Transport Canada — Western Canada (WCMRC) Trans Mountain fee: Adds a special Trans Mountain Expansion Project bulk oil cargo fee (TMEP BOCF) for shipments loaded at the Westridge facility (owned by Trans Mountain Pipeline L.P.). The TMEP rate is $14.963 per tonne, effective January 1, 2021, and is charged in addition to other registration and BOCF charges. Objections could be filed within 30 days.
• Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions: Issued an order under the Insurance Companies Act authorizing Hudson Insurance Company (Compagnie d'Assurance Hudson) to insure in Canada, effective January 1, 2021, in classes such as automobile, liability, marine, property, surety, fidelity, hail, and boiler & machinery insurance.
• Privy Council Office: Published a wide call for applications to many Governor in Council appointments across federal boards, agencies and commissions. Each opportunity is open for at least two weeks from posting.

Who's affected#

• Oil handlers, terminals and ship operators using ports in the Quebec/Maritimes, Newfoundland and Great Lakes regions.
• Companies and shippers that load crude oil at the Westridge oil handling facility operated by Trans Mountain Pipeline L.P..
• Eastern Canada Response Corporation Ltd. and Western Canada Marine Response Corporation, which collect and apply these fees.
• Insurers, brokers and customers who might use or be offered products from Hudson Insurance Company in Canada.
• Local police services named in the fingerprint notices and the forensic units that rely on those designations.
• Canadians interested in federal board and commission jobs (many specific positions were listed).
• The general public and stakeholders who may want to comment or object to the fee notices within the stated comment period.

Why it matters#

• Shipping and oil customers: Per‑tonne fees are a direct cost on oil movements. The new Trans Mountain fee of $14.963 per tonne is much larger than the other per‑tonne fees listed and could noticeably increase costs for certain crude shipments out of the Westridge terminal.
• Ports and terminals will need to apply the updated BOCF rates and may pass costs onto customers.
• The insurance approval for Hudson Insurance Company adds another insurer to the Canadian market, which can affect availability and pricing of the listed insurance types.
• Changes to fingerprint examiner designations are mainly administrative but can affect local forensic capacity and who is authorized to prepare fingerprint evidence.
• The statutory repeals appear to be housekeeping (removing outdated provisions), but the notice does not explain any direct, immediate impacts of those specific repeals.
• The appointment notices are a routine way the government fills many public roles; they matter to anyone seeking leadership roles in federal agencies or boards.