Highlights

  • The Canada Revenue Agency plans to revoke the charity status of LIFEPOINT FOUNDATION for non-compliance.
  • A public hearing will address a tariff classification dispute over “La Jeune Vache” dairy products.
  • The CRTC has made decisions on broadcasting licenses and applications, including renewals and new services.
  • Amendments to the Maa-nulth First Nations Final Agreement involve land additions and tax exemption reinstatements.
  • The Department of Industry has announced various public service appointments.
  • Canada aims to align energy efficiency regulations for home appliances with U.S. standards by 2027.
  • New certification requirements for certain radio apparatuses and broadband equipment have been released.
  • Opportunities for Governor in Council positions are open, focusing on merit and diversity.
  • Markel International Insurance Company Limited seeks to insure risks in Canada, and a new life insurance company, Insurance Stewards Inc., is proposed.
  • Canada commits to net-zero GHG emissions by 2050, with proposed regulations to reduce emissions from fossil fuel-generated electricity by 2035.

Canadian Regulatory Updates: Charity Registration Revocation, Trade Tribunal Hearing, and CRTC Decisions

The Canada Revenue Agency has announced its intention to revoke the registration of the charity “LIFEPOINT FOUNDATION FOR PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS” based in North York, Ontario, due to non-compliance with the Income Tax Act. The revocation will be effective upon publication in the Canada Gazette.

The Canadian International Trade Tribunal will hold a public hearing on September 19, 2023, to consider an appeal by 9311-3652 Québec Inc. regarding the classification of “La Jeune Vache” dairy-based food preparations. The dispute is whether the goods should be classified under a tariff item for food preparations with over 50% dairy content or one for preparations with 10-50% milk solids.

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has posted various decisions, notices, and applications on its website. These include a Part 1 application from DHX Television Ltd. for the Wildbrain service, and administrative decisions regarding the renewal of broadcasting licenses for CBC radio stations in Haines Junction and Whitehorse, Yukon Territory. Additionally, the CRTC has issued decisions on applications from several broadcasters across Canada for various radio and television stations, including Rogers Media Inc., My Broadcasting Corporation, Pickering College Campus Radio, Akash Broadcasting Inc., and others. [Source]

Recent Amendments and Appointments in Canadian Government Agencies and Regulatory Updates

The Department of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs has announced amendments to the Maa-nulth First Nations Final Agreement, which include the addition of specific land parcels to the Maa-nulth First Nation Lands of the Ka:’yu:’k’t’h’/Che:k’tles7et’h’ First Nations. Furthermore, amendments have been made to reinstate the tax exemption of section 87 of the Indian Act on former reserve lands for Maa-nulth First Nations and Tla’amin Nation, as well as for treaty beneficiaries registered under the Indian Act on all other reserves in Canada. This reinstatement aligns with Canada’s revised federal tax policy.

The Department of Industry has made appointments to various positions, including Associate Deputy Minister of Natural Resources, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources, and others within the Public Service Commission and the Immigration and Refugee Board. Additionally, a series of ministerial appointments and changes have been advised, affecting positions such as Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, President of the Treasury Board, and Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, among others.

Natural Resources Canada has signaled its intention to align Canada’s Energy Efficiency Regulations for certain home appliances with the United States Department of Energy standards. The effective dates for these new standards will be aligned with those in the U.S., which are expected to begin in 2027.

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada has released RSS-247, Issue 3, which outlines certification requirements for certain radio apparatuses, and RSS-198, Issue 1, which sets requirements for flexible use broadband equipment operating in the 3900-3980 MHz band.

Lastly, the Privy Council Office has listed current opportunities for Canadians to apply for various Governor in Council positions across different organizations, emphasizing a merit-based, transparent process that seeks to reflect Canada’s diversity. [Source]

Markel International Seeks Entry into Canadian Insurance Market; Portfolio Stewards Inc. Proposes New Life Insurance Company

Markel International Insurance Company Limited, an insurance company based in England and Wales, is planning to apply for permission to insure risks in Canada. The company operates mainly in the UK, Europe, and Asia and is a subsidiary of Markel Corporation from the United States. It intends to offer services in various insurance classes including accident and sickness, and property, among others. The Canadian branch will be located in Toronto, Ontario.

Portfolio Stewards Inc., along with Stewardship Alternative Income Fund and individuals Paul and Peggy Tyers, is also planning to apply to establish a new life insurance company in Canada. This company will offer life and health insurance products and will be headquartered in Toronto, Ontario. The company will be named Insurance Stewards Inc. Objections to this incorporation can be submitted to the Superintendent of Financial Institutions before a specified date.

Both applications are subject to approval by the Superintendent of Financial Institutions and the discretion of the Minister of Finance following the standard review process. [Source]

Canada’s Clean Electricity Regulations for Net-Zero Emissions by 2050

Canada is addressing climate change by committing to a net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions economy by 2050. Extreme weather events, costing over $18 billion between 2010 and 2019, highlight the urgency of this commitment. To achieve net-zero emissions, Canada will need to electrify energy-intensive activities and ensure electricity comes from low and non-emitting sources. The proposed Clean Electricity Regulations establish performance standards to reduce GHG emissions from fossil fuel-generated electricity starting in 2035.

The regulations aim to transform the electricity-generating sector by 2035, providing a foundation for clean electricity to support Canada’s transition to a net-zero GHG emissions economy by 2050. A cost-benefit analysis estimates that the regulations will result in a net reduction of 342 million metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent units (CO2e) between 2024 and 2050, with a net benefit to society of $28.9 billion.

The regulations will apply to units with a capacity of 25 MW or greater that use fossil fuels and are connected to a North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC)-regulated electricity system. Units must register by the end of 2025 or within 60 days of commissioning for units commissioned after January 1, 2025. The performance standard of 30 tonnes of CO2 per GWh will apply starting January 1, 2035, with certain exceptions for units operating under specific conditions or using carbon capture and storage (CCS) systems.

The regulations also include provisions for emergency circumstances, allowing units to operate without meeting the performance standard if necessary to avoid threats to the electricity supply. Compliance and enforcement will follow the Compliance and Enforcement Policy for the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, with possible responses ranging from warnings to criminal prosecution. The regulations are expected to have positive environmental effects and support sustainable development goals. [Source]

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