Renewing Environmental Emergency Notification Agreements with Six Provinces and Territories

Official title: Notice with respect to the availability of the proposed environmental occurrences notification agreements between Canada and Alberta, Canada and British Columbia, Canada and Manitoba, Canada and Ontario, Canada and Saskatchewan, and Canada and Yukon

Closed Regulations & Permits Environment & Climate
When an oil spill or chemical release happens, companies must notify both federal and provincial governments. Right now, six provinces and territories have agreements that let them share these notifications with Ottawa automatically. These agreements expire in March 2026 and need renewal.

Why This Matters

Live in Alberta, BC, Manitoba, Ontario, Saskatchewan, or Yukon? These agreements affect how fast governments respond to environmental emergencies near you. When a train derails or a pipeline leaks, the notification system determines how quickly cleanup crews get dispatched.

What Could Change

The renewed agreements would continue the current system where provincial 24-hour hotlines receive emergency reports and automatically forward them to Environment Canada. Without renewal, companies might have to make separate calls to federal and provincial authorities during emergencies.

Key Issues

  • Should the notification agreements be renewed as proposed?
  • Are there improvements needed to the emergency notification system?

How to Participate

  1. Review the Notice in Canada Gazette, Part 1 for details on the proposed agreements.
  2. Request copies of the proposed agreements by emailing urgencesenvironnementales-environmentalemergencies@ec.gc.ca.
  3. Submit comments by email to urgencesenvironnementales-environmentalemergencies@ec.gc.ca or by mail, citing Canada Gazette, Part I, October 18, 2025.

Key Documents