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Home > Who we are & our governance > Strategic Plan 2010-2013 - Questions and Answers

Strategic Plan 2010-2013 - Questions and Answers

1. Why has the National Energy Board's vision changed?

Section 52 of the National Energy Board Actstates that the Board will take into consideration whatever it deems to be relevant in the public interest in the context of an application to build energy infrastructure facilities. Thus, the Act enables the Board to integrate economic, social and environmental factors into its decision-making in a way that reflects the public interest in creating a sustainable energy future for Canada. The NEB is active and effective in integrating these factors in its decision-making and the Board is of the view that it is time to update its vision to reflect how it integrates these factors in the public interest.

2. What does the term "sustainable energy future" mean to the NEB?

The Board recognizes that there is no universally agreed-upon definition of sustainability. For the Board it means that, within the context of our mandate, we will integrate the environmental, social and economic considerations relevant to choosing a course of action. In so doing, the Board must ask itself: to what extent is Canada better off, or worse off, overall, by choosing this course of action? By integrating the relevant considerations, the Board assesses the overall public interest associated with the chosen course of action.

3. Why was the reference to being an effective and knowledgeable partner dropped from the vision statement?

We believe our role as a partner, when it is appropriate to be so, is better explained in our strategies. For instance, it is appropriate to partner with other government departments and agencies, through Memoranda of Understanding, to improve the achievement of safety and environmental outcomes. Conversely, in deciding on applications for pipeline projects, the Board adjudicates - it does not partner.

4. Why has the purpose changed?

The fundamentals of the purpose remain unchanged, namely that the NEB regulates pipelines, international power lines, energy development and trade in the Canadian public interest. The streamlined wording of the purpose highlights the key elements of our raison d'être.

5. Why was the order of the vision and purpose inverted?

Inverting the purpose and vision makes it clearer that our vision exists within the context of our purpose (mandate).

6. What goal was dropped and why?

The last goal (internally referred to as Goal 5) previously read: "The NEB delivers quality outcomes through innovation and leadership". The Board felt that we were not doing justice to the organization's collective expectations of our leadership by having a goal which singled out those expectations separately from the others. Those expectations should be applied across the organization and throughout all of the four remaining goals.

7. Why did the NEB change the wording of the third value - accountability?

The NEB has made a commitment to plain language writing and, in keeping with this commitment, we decided to express the value more clearly.

8. What does the NEB mean by goal-oriented regulation?

Goal-oriented regulation involves the NEB, as the regulator, setting out the requirements for companies we regulate and letting them, as the experts, determine how they will meet our requirements. This approach is in contrast to a prescriptive type of regulation where we would set out the details of the "how". Goal-oriented regulation, coupled with a strong compliance framework, ensures that all NEB regulated facilities and activities are safe, and that tolls are just and reasonable. By being goal-oriented, the NEB can focus on our role and let the experts who run the facilities every day bring forward the very best innovations and advances that are continuously developing.

9. Why did the NEB add a new strategy?

While "We achieve results through goal-oriented regulation" was newly added as a strategy in the Strategic Plan, it is not a new strategy to the NEB. Goal-oriented regulation is a cornerstone of how the Board approaches its regulatory mandate.

10. Why doesn't the Strategic Plan mention power lines?

To remain succinct we did not mention all aspects of what the NEB regulates within our Strategic Plan.

11. When will this Strategic Plan be in effect?

This new plan officially comes into effect on 1 April 2010.

12. Is this a significant change in the NEB's direction?

The NEB will continue to make decisions in the public interest, as it always has. It will continue to consider and integrate economic, social and environmental factors in its decisions. The new Strategic Plan emphasizes our resolve to use the language and the approaches that Canadians have come to expect from their public institutions.

 

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Date Modified:
2011-11-04