CNSOER Historical Updates & Announcements

Effective January 31, 2025, the Accord Acts were amended to expand the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board's (CNSOPB) mandate to include offshore renewable energy. On this date, the CNSOPB became the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Energy Regulator (CNSOER).

We welcome the inclusion of renewable energy to our regulatory oversight and becoming the lead and lifecycle regulator for offshore energy in the Canada-Nova Scotia offshore area. We have been a trusted regulator for the safe and environmentally responsible lifecycle development of oil and gas activities over its our 35-year history, and we will continue to deliver regulatory excellence for offshore energy in the Canada-Nova Scotia offshore area.

Past updates and announcements leading up to the CNSOPB becoming the CNSOER:

On April 11, 2022, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources, and the Honourable Tory Rushton, Nova Scotia’s Minister of Natural Resources and Renewables, issued a joint release: “Canada and Nova Scotia Announce Intent to Expand the Mandate of Offshore Energy Regime to Support the Transition to a Clean Economy and Create Sustainable Jobs." This announcement includes the two governments agreement “to work toward modernizing the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board (CNSOPB) that would expand its mandate to include the regulation of offshore renewable energy development in the Canada-Nova Scotia offshore areas. Modernizing the CNSOPB is consistent with both governments’ commitments to diversify their economies and includes an intention to move forward by renaming the board to the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Energy Board (CNSOEB) to reflect its new mandate.”

The Board and our staff welcome this expansion to our mandate. We have the technical and regulatory experience and expertise necessary to regulate offshore renewable energy and look forward to these regulatory changes. Transitioning to become the offshore energy regulator is in line with what other Canadian and international regulators are doing.

Date	Information
31/01/2025	On January 31, 2025, Natural Resources Canada’s issued this news release - Government of Canada and Nova Scotia Moving Forward to Seize the Enormous Economic Opportunities of Offshore Wind
01/01/2025	The January 1, 2025 Canada Gazette notice of the order stating that the amendments to the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Resources Accord Implementation Act will come into force on January 31, 2025.
07/10/2024	On October 7, 2024, the CNSOPB issued a statement on CNSOPB becoming the CNSOER: Document Read the statement.
03/10/2024	On October 3, 2024, the federal government’s Bill C-49, An Act to amend the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Atlantic Accord Implementation Act and the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Resources Accord Implementation Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts, received Royal Assent. Natural Resources Canada issued a news release announcing the passing of legislation.
20/09/2024	On September 20, 2024, the provincial government’s Bill 471, An Act Respecting Advancing Nova Scotia Opportunities, received Royal Assent.
13/06/2024	On June 13, 2024, CNSOPB CEO, Christine Bonnell-Eisnor, appeared as a witness before the Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources on Bill C-49. Her testimony is available to watch. Read her opening statement: Document Read her opening statement.
05/02/2024	On February 5, 2024, CNSOPB CEO, Christine Bonnell-Eisnor, appeared as a witness before the House committee on Natural Resources on Bill C-49. Her testimony is available to watch. Read her opening statement. Document Read her opening statement.
31/05/2023	On May 31, 2023, a backgrounder document was released from Natural Resources Canada on the Accord Acts and the Joint Management Regimes in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador.
30/05/2023	On May 30, 2023, the Senate completed their first reading of Bill C-49, An Act to amend the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Atlantic Accord Implementation Act and the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Resources Accord Implementation Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts.
30/05/2023	On May 30, 2023, Natural Resources Canada issued a news release on building offshore renewables in Newfoundland and Labrador and Nova Scotia.
11/04/2022	On April 11, 2022, Canada and Nova Scotia issued a joint news release announcing their intent to expand the mandate of offshore energy regime to support the transition to a clean economy and create sustainable jobs.
05/04/2022	On April 5, 2022, Steven Guilbeault, P.C., M.P., Minister of Environment and Climate Change, issued a statement regarding Canadian Impact Assessment Registry - Regional Assessment of Offshore Wind Development in Newfoundland and Labrador and Nova Scotia.
	A link is available to the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada’s Canadian Impact Assessment Registry for the Regional Assessment of Offshore Wind Development in Newfoundland and Labrador and Nova Scotia.