Canada–Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Resources Accord Implementation and Offshore Renewable Energy Management Act

Marginal note:Public review

• 44 (1) Subject to any directives issued under subsection 41(1), the Regulator may conduct a public review in relation to the exercise of any of its powers or the performance of any of its duties where the Regulator is of the opinion that it is in the public interest to do so.

• Marginal note:Powers of Regulator

  (2) Where a public review is conducted pursuant to subsection (1) in relation to any matter, the Regulator may

  • (a) establish terms of reference and a timetable that will permit a comprehensive review of all aspects of the matter, including those within the authority of Parliament or of the Legislature of the Province;

  • (b) appoint one or more commissioners and, where there is to be more than one commissioner, appoint as commissioners persons nominated by each of the governments in recognition of the authority of Ministers of the Crown in right of Canada or of the Province under any Act of Parliament or of the Legislature of the Province, other than this Act or the Provincial Act, in relation to the matter;

  • (c) cause the commissioners to hold public hearings in appropriate locations in the Province or elsewhere in Canada and report thereon to the Regulator, the Federal Minister and the Provincial Minister; and

  • (d) where the public review is conducted in relation to any potential development of a pool or field, require the person who proposed the potential development to submit and make available for public distribution a preliminary development plan, an environmental impact statement, a socio-economic impact statement, a preliminary Canada-Nova Scotia benefits plan and any other plan specified by the Regulator.

• Marginal note:Powers of commissioners

  (3) On the request of the Regulator, the Federal Government may, subject to such terms and conditions as it considers necessary, confer on the Regulator or the commissioners appointed pursuant to paragraph (2)(b) all or any of the powers conferred on persons appointed as commissioners under Part I of the Inquiries Act.

• Marginal note:Time limit for Regulator’s recommendations on a plan

  (4) The commissioners shall make their recommendations respecting any preliminary plan or statement submitted pursuant to paragraph (2)(d) within two hundred and seventy days after their receipt of the plan or statement or such shorter period as may be set by the Regulator.