Highlights

  • ALLETE, Inc. seeks authorization to export electricity to the U.S., with input requested on the impact and fairness to Canadian buyers.
  • The CITT will hold a hearing on the classification of outdoor furniture under the Customs Act.
  • Weatherlogics Inc.’s complaint against ECCC’s bid re-evaluation was deemed valid by the CITT.
  • Measures against dumping and subsidizing of Chinese sucker rods continue.
  • CRTC has posted recent decisions and updates.
  • Critical habitat for the Redside Dace in Rouge National Urban Park has been identified and will be protected.
  • The Maa-nulth First Nations Final Agreement was amended to include additional lands.
  • The Government of Canada is seeking diverse candidates for various Governor in Council positions.
  • PACICC plans to incorporate a new insurance company, with objections due by a specified date.
  • Validus Reinsurance, Ltd. and Westport Insurance Corporation seek to release their Canadian assets, with deadlines for objections.
  • Western Assurance Company, Intact Insurance Company, and another entity plan to amalgamate into Intact Insurance Company.

Regulatory Updates: Electricity Export, Trade Tribunal Hearings, Environmental Protections, and CRTC Decisions

ALLETE, Inc. d/b/a Minnesota Power has applied to the Canada Energy Regulator (CER) for authorization to export up to 1,200,000 MWh of electricity annually to the United States for ten years. The CER seeks input from interested parties on the potential impact of this export on other provinces and whether the applicant has offered Canadian buyers a fair opportunity to purchase electricity. Submissions are due by September 30, 2024, and responses from the applicant are due by October 15, 2024.

The Canadian International Trade Tribunal (CITT) will hold a public hearing on October 3, 2024, to consider appeals by Canac Marquis Grenier Ltée and Canac Immobilier Inc. regarding the classification of various outdoor tables and chairs under the Customs Act. The dispute involves whether the goods are correctly classified under specific tariff items for domestic purposes or should be classified differently as claimed by the appellants.

The CITT determined that a complaint by Weatherlogics Inc. against the Department of the Environment (ECCC) was valid. Weatherlogics alleged that ECCC unfairly re-evaluated its bid for updating Canadian precipitation datasets.

The CITT continued its finding on the dumping and subsidizing of sucker rods from China, maintaining measures against these imports.

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has posted decisions and notices on its website, including recent administrative decisions and regulatory updates.

Parks Canada Agency announced that critical habitat for the Redside Dace, a small fish listed under the Species at Risk Act, has been identified within Rouge National Urban Park. Protections for this habitat will come into effect 90 days after the notice’s publication. [Source]

Maa-nulth First Nations Land Expansion and Governor in Council Appointment Opportunities

The Maa-nulth First Nations Final Agreement has been amended to include additional lands, referred to as the “Island Timberlands,” to the Maa-nulth First Nation Lands of Toquaht Nation. These lands, located in the Clayoquot and Alberni Districts of British Columbia, were officially added on September 14, 2021. The amendment affects several parcels of land, which are now reflected in the updated Appendix B-3, Part 2, and Part 2(a) of the Final Agreement. The maps and descriptions provided are for illustrative purposes and should not be used for legal definitions of land boundaries.

The Government of Canada is seeking diverse and talented Canadians for various Governor in Council positions. These positions include roles such as Director at the Bank of Canada, Chairperson at the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation, and President of Export Development Canada, among others. The government emphasizes a transparent, merit-based appointment process that promotes diversity, gender parity, and representation of Indigenous peoples and minority groups. Appointees are expected to foster a healthy, respectful, and harassment-free work environment. Each opportunity is open for applications for a minimum of two weeks from the posting date on the Governor in Council appointments website. [Source]

Insurance Company Applications and Amalgamations in Canada

Property and Casualty Insurance Compensation Corporation (PACICC) plans to apply for letters patent to incorporate a new property and casualty insurance company named PACICC-SIMA General Insurance Company, headquartered in Toronto, Ontario. The company will only operate under special circumstances as determined by the PACICC Board. Objections to this application can be submitted to the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) by October 22, 2024.

Validus Reinsurance, Ltd. intends to apply for the release of its assets maintained in Canada. Policyholders or creditors opposing this release must file their objections with OSFI by October 7, 2024.

Western Assurance Company, Intact Insurance Company, and 13130126 Canada Inc. plan to amalgamate into a single entity named Intact Insurance Company, with its head office in Toronto, Ontario. The proposed amalgamation is subject to approval and is expected to take effect on January 1, 2025. Policyholders can inspect the independent actuary’s report upon request.

Westport Insurance Corporation also seeks to release its assets maintained in Canada. Objections to this release must be filed with OSFI by September 30, 2024. [Source]

Source