I appreciate the extra steps I was able to clock in this morning while getting back and forth from Mr. Christie's office, so thank you, members and staff.
Good morning, Ms. Farrell and Mr. Labonté.
My name is Jonathan Timlin, I'm the vice president of system operations with the Canada Energy Regulator.
I'm here with Mr. Darren Christie, chief economist, and Mr. Sean Maher, professional leader, environment.
I want to begin by acknowledging that I'm appearing before you today from Calgary, located within Treaty 7 territory, the traditional territory of the Blackfoot Confederacy, which includes the Siksika, Piikani and Kainai first nations. Treaty 7 territory is also home to the Tsuut'ina First Nation and the Stoney Nakoda, which includes the Chiniki, Bearspaw and Goodstoney nations. I'd also like to recognize the Métis who have settled in southern Alberta and call this place home.
Thank you for the opportunity to talk to you about the work CER is doing as part of your study.
I welcome the opportunity to briefly describe the CER's mandate, how we assess energy infrastructure projects in relation to greenhouse gas emissions, and how we support the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources and the Canadian public with information about potential future scenarios for Canada's emissions reductions and energy mix.
The CER's mandate is clear: to regulate energy infrastructure, international and interprovincial power lines and offshore energy projects in a way that prevents harm and ensures a safe, reliable, competitive and environmentally sustainable delivery of energy to Canada and the world. Our mandate includes the full life cycle of the energy infrastructure we regulate, from design and assessment through to construction, operation and end-of-life. We oversee approximately 73,000 kilometres of federally regulated pipelines and just over 1,600 kilometres of power lines.
We play an important economic role in pipeline rights and tariffs, as well as energy exports.
Part of the Canada Energy Regulator's mandate is also to provide information on energy. We provide information and analysis that inform decision-making and dialogue on energy in Canada.
In everything we do, safety and environmental oversight are always at the forefront. They're the reasons we exist. The CER does not develop or set government policy, including federal climate policies. Questions on these matters are best directed to our colleagues at NRCan and Environment and Climate Change Canada.
In speaking about our mandate, I also want to recognize reconciliation with Canada's indigenous people as core to our work. We're implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples by enhancing indigenous involvement in our oversight, building renewed relationships based on recognition of rights, improving the cultural competency of the CER and its staff, and driving meaningful change in the CER's requirements and expectations of regulated industry.
The CER Act established the commission of the CER as the court of record responsible for making independent, adjudicated decisions and recommendations on pipelines, power lines and offshore renewable energy projects within Parliament's jurisdiction. In making a decision or recommendation as to whether a proposed facility is in the public interest, our commission takes into account a number of specified factors, including the extent to which the project hinders or contributes to Canada's ability to meet its environmental objectives and commitments with respect to climate change.
In assessing the extent of emissions, the commission also considers how the project's predicted emissions impact Canada's GHG reduction targets. The commission may impose legally binding conditions as part of a project's authorization, and conditions may refer to additional mitigation measures and other requirements in order to avoid or reduce a project's GHG emissions.
Alongside our regulatory functions, the CER plays a vital role in providing timely and relevant energy information and analysis to support industry conversation in Canada. We monitor energy markets on an ongoing basis and produce a series of publications on topical energy issues, such as energy trade, energy supply and demand, pipeline—
