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Duncan McPherson

Energy & Infrastructure Lawyer | Corporate Transactions

Partner

Luke Morrison

Energy Project Development, M&A, and Commercial Transaction Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Ashley M. White

Corporate & Commercial Transactions Lawyer | Power & Energy

On March 21, 2025, Prime Minister Carney <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/readouts/2025/03/21/prime-minister-carney-meets-leaders-national-indigenous-organizations" target="_blank">announced important changes to the federal Indigenous Loan Guarantee Program</a> (Program). The Government of Canada doubled funding for the Program from C$5billion to C$10 billion and opened the Program to sectors outside of energy and natural resources. Prime Minister Carney noted this expansion "will ensure that rights-holders are a part of Canada's accelerated push to build."

Government of Canada Doubles Funding for Federal Indigenous Loan Guarantee Program

Duncan McPherson writes for the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade on the EV transition in British Columbia. The online version is <a rel="noopener noreferrer" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.boardoftrade.com/blog/what-bc-businesses-need-to-know-about-the-ev-transition" target="_blank">available here</a>.
British Columbia is leading the way in Canada's shift to zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs). Statistics Canada says that nearly one in five of all new vehicles registered in the province in the first quarter of 2023 was a ZEV, the highest percentage in the country.

What BC Businesses Need to Know About the EV Transition

What B.C. Businesses Need to Know About the EV Transition

On June 15, 2023, the Government of British Columbia <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2023EMLI0036-000941" target="_blank">announced</a> that BC Hydro would be moving forward with a call for new sources of 100 percent clean, renewable emission-free electricity, notably including wind and solar. The call, expected to launch in spring 2024, is BC Hydro's first call for power in 15 years and will seek power from larger scale projects.

Electrification of Vehicles Industry Prompts BC Hydros First Call for Power in 15 Years

Electrification of Vehicles, Industry, Prompts BC Hydro's First Call for Power in 15 Years

On July 6, 2021, the Government of British Columbia released its Hydrogen Strategy outlining 63 actions to be undertaken over the short-term (2020-25), medium-term (2025-30) and long-term (2030-50) to make B.C. a leader in local hydrogen adoption and global hydrogen business.

British Columbia Announces Hydrogen Strategy

J. Sébastien A. Gittens

Technology Lawyer & Trademark Agent

Tech & Data, National Practice Group Leader 

Suzie Suliman

Commercial Transactions Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Associate, Trademark Agent

Kees de Ridder

Technology, IP & Privacy Lawyer | Patents, Licensing & Cyber

Partner, Patent Agent, Trademark Agent

The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada has released draft guidance outlining best practices for organizations to assess the privacy practices of third-party service providers under PIPEDA. The guidance emphasizes that privacy due diligence is an ongoing accountability obligation, with particular attention to data flows, AI and training data, security, subcontractors, international transfers and data retention.

OPC Issues New PIPEDA Guidance on Assessing Third-Party Service Providers

Martin Ignasiak KC

Energy & Industrial Projects Lawyer

Head of Energy Regulatory

Nathan Murray

Energy Regulatory, Environmental & Administrative Lawyer

Associate

Canada has amended the Physical Activities Regulations to remove certain intraprovincial energy projects and Canada Energy Regulator-regulated facilities from the federal Impact Assessment Act Project List. The changes are intended to reduce regulatory duplication, timelines and costs while providing greater certainty for proponents, while other federal environmental and emissions requirements remain applicable.

Government of Canada Reduces the Scope of the Project List under the Impact Assessment

Government of Canada Reduces the Scope of the Project List under the Impact Assessment Act

Jessica Kennedy

Regulatory Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Jennifer (Jenn) K. Choi

Commercial Litigation Lawyer at Bennett Jones Vancouver

On July 15, 2026, British Columbia and Simpcw First Nation entered into a consent-based decision-making agreement under the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA) for the environmental assessment of the Yellowhead Copper Project. The Agreement requires Simpcw consent for the project to proceed and establishes a framework for parallel provincial and Indigenous environmental assessments. Its potential application to future mining projects in Simpcw&rsquo;s traditional territory highlights the evolving role of Indigenous consent in major resource development projects in British Columbia.

BC Signs DRIPA Consent Agreement Requiring Simpcw Consent for Yellowhead Copper Project

BC Signs DRIPA Agreement Requiring Simpcw Consent for Yellowhead Copper Project

Katherine Booth

Litigation Lawyer at Bennett Jones Vancouver

The BC Court of Appeal in Cleaver v. The Cadillac Fairview Corporation Limited upheld the refusal to certify a privacy class action, finding no basis in fact for the claim&rsquo;s central allegation. The decision reinforces the courts&rsquo; gatekeeping role at certification and the importance of evidentiary support for the core allegations underlying a proposed class proceeding.

BC Court of Appeal No basis in fact no class action

BC Court of Appeal: No Basis in Fact = No Class Action 

Michael C. Smith

Litigation Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

George W. H. Reid

International Trade, Investment and Public Procurement Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

The Government of Canada has published a new Notice concerning the rules and procedures governing the administration of the quota for imports of electric vehicles from the People's Republic of China for the second period of Quota Year 1 (September 1, 2026 to February 28, 2027). The Notice, issued by Global Affairs Canada under the Export and Import Permits Act, confirms that the second allocation period will continue to operate similar to the first allocation period.&nbsp;

Duncan McPherson in GVBOT's COVID-19 Leadership Series

From the Same Authors