Natural Resources

The House of Commons Standing Committee on Natural Resources met to consider the main estimates for 2026-27 and supplementary estimates (C), 2025-26, and to resume its study of the management of Canadian Nuclear Laboratories by U.S. companies. Appearing were Tracy Sletto, Chief Executive Officer of the Canada Energy Regulator; Colin Moses, Vice President of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission; Greg Orencsak, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources; and Glenn Hargrove, Assistant Deputy Minister of the Canadian Forest Service.

Tracy Sletto outlined the Canada Energy Regulator's planned spending of $119.4 million for 2026-27, allocated across safety and environment oversight, energy adjudication, engagement, and energy information, with 95% of costs recovered from regulated industry. She highlighted investments in a new digital portal to streamline regulatory processes and the release of the Canada's energy future report, but noted that the CER does not conduct project-specific cost-benefit analyses, as its energy information mandate focuses on broad macroeconomic supply-and-demand scenarios rather than individual infrastructure viability.

Colin Moses emphasized the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission's role as an independent nuclear regulator focused on safety, security, and environmental protection, operating under a cost-recovery model with 70-75% of costs recovered from industry. He noted recent licensing decisions including two new uranium mines in Saskatchewan and Canada's first grid-scale small modular reactor, but stated that the CNSC has no role in ownership decisions or in prioritizing Canadian versus foreign proponents, as its mandate is limited to regulatory oversight of nuclear activities.

Greg Orencsak reported that Natural Resources Canada is seeking $4.9 billion in budgetary authorities for 2026-27, a decrease from the previous year, with increases for the critical minerals strategy, biofuels production incentive program, smart renewables and electrification pathways program, and wildfire management. He explained that the $1.5-billion first and last mile fund aims to address infrastructure gaps for critical mineral development, and that the indigenous loan guarantee program could theoretically support up to $10 billion in loans for indigenous equity in a future pipeline, though specifics would depend on the proponent.

Glenn Hargrove discussed the Canadian Forest Service's work on wildfire management, including a $70-million increase in funding for aerial firefighting capacity and coordination through the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre. He noted that the department is reviewing the report from the Canadian forest sector transformation task force, received the previous week, and that research is ongoing into how increased wildfire frequency and severity affect boreal forest regeneration and carbon sequestration.

During the meeting, a Conservative motion was moved requiring the Department of Natural Resources, the Canada Energy Regulator, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, and the Northern Pipeline Agency to provide four updates on departmental plan implementation by specified dates in 2026-27, with automatic invitations for the minister and officials to appear. A Liberal motion was also moved for a study on domestic Canadian energy security, which was amended by the Bloc Québécois to include an in-depth study on electrification, energy self-sufficiency, and domestic energy security with at least six meetings. Both motions were adopted on division.