The Canada Energy Regulator (CER) is currently holding contested hearings for parties affected by the detailed route of the 1,147 km Trans Mountain Expansion Project (TMEP), which is a proposed pipeline between Edmonton, Alberta and Burnaby, British Columbia. The project is valued at $12.6 billion. Cassels acts for Trans Mountain Corporation with respect to obtaining detailed route approval for the TMEP, including more than 20 detailed route hearings for landowners and municipalities before the CER.
The Cassels team recently represented Trans Mountain in a detailed route hearing to address numerous concerns identified by the affected landowners. The process included an oral argument hearing conducted by videoconference on December 4, 2020. On January 28, 2021, the CER issued a decision approving the proposed methods of construction and ruling in favour of Trans Mountain on every issue. The CER recognized Trans Mountain’s engagement and work addressing the landowners’ concerns in advance of the hearing. As a result of this and other successful detailed route hearings, the CER will now approve the Plan, Profile and Book of Reference for several kilometres of the TMEP route.