How to participate

Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) is seeking participation from Indigenous groups in the development of the proposed Indigenous Ministerial Arrangements Regulations (IMARs). These regulations could enable Indigenous governing bodies to carry out certain powers, duties or functions currently carried out by the Canada Energy Regulator (CER).

NRCan is currently undertaking Phase 2 of the IMARs National Engagement Strategy. NRCan is seeking participation from Indigenous groups through in person or virtual engagement sessions, or through written responses to the Phase 2 discussion questions.

Preparing for an IMARs engagement session

NRCan will be engaging with Indigenous groups through March 2025. For details on upcoming engagement opportunities, email the IMARs team at imar-rama@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca.

Upcoming engagement sessions will delve deeper into practical aspects of IMARs and provide technical information on the CER.

NRCan has prepared materials to help ensure participants are able to fully participate in upcoming sessions:

• Proposed IMARs Information Sheet (PDF, 918 KB)
• IMARs Glossary of Terms (PDF, 375 KB)
• Regional Profiles for Federally Regulated Energy Infrastructure

In addition to these resources, interested Indigenous participants are also encouraged to refer to the Related links.

Preparing for Phase 2 discussions

The following questions were created to help inform the development of Indigenous Ministerial Arrangements Regulations. Sections 77 and 78 of the Canadian Energy Regulator Act (CERA) authorizes the Governor in Council to develop regulations that would enable Indigenous Ministerial Arrangements.

By the end of Phase 2, NRCan is looking to have a list of interested Indigenous groups to participate in future phases, as well as a strong base of Indigenous feedback for the development of a regulatory proposal.

• Indigenous governing body

  • How do you wish to be represented?
    • What would an Indigenous governing body (IGB) look like for you (i.e. who could be authorized to represent you)?
    • What are the benefits (and/or setbacks) of multiple Indigenous Nations/groups forming one IGB for the purposes of entering into an Arrangement?
    • In what ways could Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) facilitate discussions among Indigenous Peoples regarding IGBs?

• Indigenous Ministerial Arrangements

  • What information would an Indigenous governing body need to enter into an Indigenous Ministerial Arrangement? 
    • How would you like to see the Arrangements applied (ex. regionally, nationally or on a project-specific level)?
    • How should an Arrangement(s) be entered into if there are concerns related to overlap in shared territories?

• Powers, duties and functions

  • What part of the lifecycle phase (e.g. approvals/permitting, construction, operation, abandonment) is most important for you to have a role in? 
    • What part of these phases are most important to have a role in (e.g. monitoring, issuing orders, setting conditions, etc.)?
    • How can NRCan support IGBs in dealing with challenges related to exercising responsibilities under the Canadian Energy Regulator Act (CERA), like higher capacity requirements and/or other implementation issues?

If you are interested in providing responses in a written format,

1. Download the Phase 2 Discussion Question Template (RTF, 11.7 MB)
2. Email the completed form to imar-rama@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca

Related links

• Proposed Indigenous Ministerial Arrangements Regulations
• CER – Who we are and what we do
• CER – Acts and Regulations
• How new laws and regulations are created

Contact us

For additional information on the proposed IMARs or to submit comments in writing, please send an email to Indigenous Ministerial Arrangements Regulations at: imar-rama@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca.