Methane report and Pacific pilotage order

Summary#

The federal Department of the Environment posted a report about how public comments and objections were handled for two methane-related items tied to Saskatchewan; that report is available as of November 16, 2024. Separately, the Minister of Transport, Anita Anand, issued an interim order that temporarily changes when the Pacific Pilotage Authority can waive compulsory pilotage in Pacific waters (the order was made on November 4, 2024).

What it does#

• Environment notice

  • Makes available a summary report of how comments and any notices of objection were handled about:
    • the Agreement on the Equivalency of Federal and Saskatchewan Regulations Respecting the Release of Methane from the Oil and Gas Sector in Saskatchewan, 2025, and
    • the Order Declaring that the Provisions of the Regulations Respecting Reduction in the Release of Methane and Certain Volatile Organic Compounds (Upstream Oil and Gas Sector) Do Not Apply in Saskatchewan.
  • The report is on the Canadian Environmental Protection Act registry as of November 16, 2024.
  • Contact named in the notice: Magda Little.

• Transport interim order

  • Temporarily suspends the current wording of section 25.10 of the General Pilotage Regulations and replaces it with new rules about when the Pacific Pilotage Authority may waive compulsory pilotage.
  • The new rules allow waivers in specific situations, including when a ship is:
    • in distress;
    • carrying out or involved in rescue, salvage or seeking refuge;
    • requiring a medical evacuation;
    • proceeding to or from a pilot boarding station; or
    • unable to embark a licensed pilot, provided certain experience and certification conditions are met.
  • Sets experience and voyage-count requirements for ships under 10,000 gross tonnage in Areas 1–5 (for example, specified numbers of return voyages in the relevant area, some within the last 24 or 60 months).
  • For ships carrying dangerous goods in the Second Narrows Traffic Control Zone, it requires completion of six return voyages (with prior notice) to qualify for a waiver.
  • Makes clear waivers cannot be given where there is a risk to navigational safety because of environmental risks, exceptional on-board circumstances, or extreme weather/tidal/freshet conditions.
  • Applications must be in writing except in certain urgent situations, and the Authority can ask for proof that conditions continue to be met.

Who's affected#

• The methane report affects:

  • companies and regulators in Saskatchewan's oil and gas sector,
  • people or groups who submitted comments or notices of objection during the consultation, and
  • anyone watching how federal and provincial rules about methane are being treated for Saskatchewan.

• The pilotage interim order affects:

  • the Pacific Pilotage Authority and its staff,
  • ship owners, masters and agents operating in Pacific compulsory pilotage areas (including vessels under 10,000 gross tonnage),
  • licensed pilots and pilotage services on the Pacific coast,
  • operators of ships carrying dangerous goods that travel through the Second Narrows Traffic Control Zone,
  • and ports or marine service providers that deal with pilotage arrangements in Areas 1–5.

Why it matters#

• The Environment notice gives a public record of how the government handled feedback about methane rules and an equivalency agreement with Saskatchewan. That matters for transparency and for anyone tracking how methane controls will be applied in that province.
• The Transport interim order changes when ships must take a licensed pilot in Pacific waters. That can affect safety decisions, voyage planning, timing and costs for ship operators, and the workload of pilots. Because it is an interim order, it was made quickly to deal with an urgent issue — so it can change how pilotage is managed while longer-term solutions are considered.