Land Matters Group Advisory Committee (LMAC AC) Meeting Summary Notes - Meeting - June 10, 2026, Calgary
Meeting - June 10, 2026, Calgary
Land Matters Advisory Committee — June 2026 Meeting Summary
The Land Matters Advisory Committee met on 10 June 2026. The meeting was chaired by Katherine Barbiaz, Vice President, Communications and Engagement at the Canada Energy Regulator (CER), and brought together representatives from landowner organizations, industry, regulators, and the Land Matters Project Working Group. The meeting included updates, technical presentations, project discussions, and forward-looking planning related to damage prevention, land agent practices, filing requirements, committee governance, financial support, recruitment, and the 2026–2027 Action Plan.
Opening Remarks and Administrative Matters
Katherine Barbiaz opened the meeting and welcomed members, noting that it was her first opportunity to chair a Land Matters Advisory Committee meeting. In her opening remarks, she advised members that publication of the Land Matters Booklet had been temporarily delayed following the Government of Canada’s 8 May 2026 announcement on streamlining regulatory processes and reducing decision-making timelines for major projects.
Pipeline Damage Prevention: BCER Perspective
The first substantive presentation focused on pipeline damage prevention from the perspective of the British Columbia Energy Regulator (BCER). This item was included at the request of Land Matters Advisory Committee members, who had expressed interest in learning more about regulators beyond the CER and the Alberta Energy Regulator. The presentation outlined the BCER’s mandate, rules, and safety requirements, with emphasis on preventing accidental damage to pipelines through early hazard identification, regulatory compliance, and respect for required distances and permits for ground disturbance.
Members discussed key issues related to prescribed areas, easement agreements, enforcement, and agricultural activities near pipelines, including circumstances where private agreements may replace standard prescribed areas and requirements for cultivation and equipment crossings. The discussion also explored incidents, repeat violations, public education, and accountability, with the BCER outlining a progressive enforcement approach that begins with warnings and escalates to stronger measures when non-compliance persists.
CER Damage Prevention, Compliance and Enforcement
The presentation on damage prevention, compliance and enforcement described damage prevention as a shared responsibility among pipeline companies, the public, including landowners and municipalities, and the CER. Regulated companies are expected to proactively manage risk, educate the public, and inspect activities near pipelines, while individuals planning activities near pipelines are responsible for confirming pipeline locations and obtaining required authorizations. The CER’s role includes outreach, guidance, verification activities, and enforcement where necessary.
Members asked questions about crossing weights, public access to unauthorized activity data, and jurisdiction over third parties working near pipelines. The minutes clarify that the CER does not directly manage crossing weight because companies are expected to authorize and monitor such activities. Members were also advised that some compliance information is publicly available online, including audit reports, warnings, field inspections, and event counts, although not all results are posted. Following a case study discussion, members requested that relevant links be circulated, and the minutes note that the CER Act gives the CER jurisdiction over anyone working within the prescribed area for safety purposes. Members emphasized the importance of proactive education and relationship-building with landowners, including farm visits and direct engagement.
Best Practices for Land Agents
The committee reviewed a near-final draft of the Best Practices for Land Agents brochure, which focuses on maintaining current knowledge, complying with legislation, pursuing ongoing ethics training, and promoting honesty, integrity, respect for property and personal information, and avoidance of coercion or misrepresentation. Members discussed next steps and recommended that the brochure clarify that energy companies “typically” use land agents. They also recommended adding a documentation standard requiring land agents to record commitments made to landowners and ensure those commitments are communicated to appropriate company representatives. Members further discussed whether the proposed requirement for a recognized ethics course every two years should be extended to five years or replaced with broader continuing professional development language that includes ethics as one component. The minutes note that the brochure will be posted to CER Dialogue and the CER website in a format suitable for printing.
Filing Manual Update
The members heard an update on the Filing Manual Review, which continues to incorporate feedback from the LMAC, Indigenous communities, industry, and other stakeholder groups. A third phase of engagement is planned for fall 2026, with additional opportunities for participation. The update focused primarily on enhancements to the lands section, including clearer and more comprehensive guidance. Key revisions include expanded descriptions of landowners and users, new requirements for landowner notification and engagement, information on alternative dispute resolution services and compensation, and more detailed explanations of land rights, including permanent, temporary, and utility crossings. The manual also clarifies processes related to land acquisition, agreements, and Section 322 notices, which can be defined as the requirement for companies to notify affected landowners once lands required for a pipeline project have been identified.
Governance, Financial Support and Action Planning
The committee discussed updates to its Terms of Reference, including the recommendation to discontinue use of the term “Land Matters Group” and adopt “Land Matters Advisory Committee” to better reflect the LMAC’s level of engagement in land-related issues. This change will require updates to the Terms of Reference, the Canada Energy Regulator website, and the CER Dialogue project page.
Members also discussed financial support for landowner associations and not-for-profit organizations. The minutes state that the LMAC has evolved into a mature forum that depends on substantive dialogue and specialized expertise, and that broader compensation eligibility would support full participation, particularly for not-for-profit organizations. The proposed guidelines would exclude organizations or individuals whose mandates or primary funding sources create a conflict of interest with the CER’s regulatory responsibilities.
The committee reviewed the 2026–2027 Action Plan, including standing items, topics on hold, and future work priorities. A request from L’Union des producteurs agricoles du Québec regarding CSA Z662 was noted for inclusion on a future meeting agenda. Members also discussed the potential value of developing a compendium of past materials for newcomers to the committee, with a view to providing a high-level overview of previous work and how key topics connect.
Recruitment, Recap and Next Steps
Discussion of LMAC recruitment was shortened due to time constraints. Because the reference document had been shared in advance, members agreed to provide feedback through the CER Dialogue discussion forum on future committee composition and recruitment considerations.
At the close of the meeting, members were invited to provide final impressions and reminded to complete the post-meeting survey on CER Dialogue. The minutes identify several action items, including circulating compliance and enforcement links requested during the case study discussion, adding depth of cover and abandonment cost estimates as future discussion topics, revising and finalizing the Best Practices for Land Agents brochure, updating Terms of Reference and related web references, adding CSA Z662 to a future agenda, further developing the newcomer compendium concept, and submitting recruitment feedback through CER Dialogue. The next meeting date was revised from 21 October 2026 to 28 October 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Mountain Time.
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