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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

Larissa D. Lees

Regulatory Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Associate

Jessica Kennedy

Bennett Jones attended the Data Centre West 2026 Conference in Calgary earlier this month, hosted by the Western Canada Data Centre Alliance, and engaged with representatives from industry, government and regulatory agencies on the issues facing Alberta's rapidly growing digital infrastructure sector. This year, discussions spanned the hyperscale and AI demand outlook, power procurement and grid access challenges, Alberta's regulatory framework, supply chain constraints and labour availability, and sustainability and community engagement, reflecting a sector that has moved well beyond early-stage interest and into active development and investment.

Albertas Digital Infrastructure Moment Has Arrived

Data Centre West 2026: Alberta's Digital Infrastructure Moment Has Arrived

Greg M. Johnson

Energy Tax & Corporate Lawyer | M&A, Reorganizations & PE

Jared A. Mackey

Corporate Tax Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Brendan Sigalet

Tax Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

On September 15, 2026, the Canadian federal government announced the "Productivity Mega Deduction" at the first Canada Investment Summit, an incentive that will provide for immediate expensing for the majority of depreciable property, as well as Canadian development expenses, on a permanent basis. The Government of Canada stated that the purpose of the Productivity Mega Deduction is to boost business investment, enhance certainty and simplicity for businesses, and strengthen Canada's tax competitiveness.

Canada Proposes New Productivity Mega Deduction to Spur Investment

From Super to Mega: Canada Proposes New "Productivity Mega Deduction" to Spur Investment

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

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

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

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Duncan McPherson in GVBOT's COVID-19 Leadership Series

From the Same Authors