Energy Policy Institute of Canada: Regulatory Reform will Impact Canada's Energy Future

CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwire - Dec. 8, 2011) - The Energy Policy Institute of Canada (EPIC) is fully supportive of Minister Oliver's announcement to advance work towards the ultimate regulatory goal of "one project, one review."

"Following the Energy and Mines Ministers' meeting in Kananaskis this year, we were very pleased to know that regulatory changes were an issue that were thought timely to be dealt with, motivating us to advance this segment of our strategy." said Doug Black, president of EPIC. "We hope that our initial findings are helpful to decision makers."

Within the EPIC document are six key recommendations:

1. Eliminate Regulatory Uncertainty
2. Shorten Timelines for Review
3. Re-Balance Project Risk Against Regulatory Rigor
4. Increase Transparency
5. Limit the Role of Joint Review Panels
6. Clarify the Aboriginal Consultation Process

"While regulatory reform is only one section of our final strategy, we felt that the importance of the topic today warranted releasing our document in a draft stage," said Gerry Protti, Vice Chair of EPIC. "I expect changes to this initial report and we welcome input as we finalize our position."

The Energy Policy Institute of Canada (EPIC) is a not-for-profit federal corporation and nonpartisan policy advocacy organization composed of Canadian enterprise that are important producers, transporters and consumers of energy as well as those that engage in financing energy development. EPIC believes that energy is a strategic sector whose prospects are inextricably linked to Canada's prosperity and that the best way to strengthen the sector's contribution to our society is through collaborative action among producers, distributors and consumers of energy - wherever they reside in Canada.