PMFORUM Breaking News
Breaking News in the Project Management World
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Canadian Government Launches Major Projects Management Office
The Government of Canada has created a Major Projects Management Office (MPMO) to overcome delays and a lack of coordination in Canada's regulatory system. The Honorable Gary Lunn, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, announced the program on October 1 in Vancouver, BC. The new MPMO is part of a $150 million initiative to improve Canada's efforts to protect the environment and improve the competitiveness of Canada's resource industries. The goal of the MPMO is to improve coordination within Canada's regulatory system by providing industry with a single, efficient point of entry into the federal process.
"Our government is taking action and reducing red tape to give Canada's natural resources industry greater certainty, improved predictability, increased transparency, and ultimately, more timely regulatory reviews," said Minister Lunn (pictured). "Environmental protection is absolutely key for Canada's New Government, and the additional capacity within the federal system will ensure we have resources dedicated to properly assess these major projects in a timely fashion."
One of the services the MPMO will provide is the integration of Crown consultation requirements with Aboriginal groups at the beginning of the process - further demonstrating the government's commitment to consulting with and listening to Canadians, particularly those who would be most directly affected by resource development projects.
According to their new website, the MPMO will advance the principles of transparency, predictability, timeliness and accountability in the Government of Canada's approach to the review of major resource project applications, maximizing the efficiency and effectiveness of the regulatory review process. The MPMO will:
Given high commodity prices and demand for resources, the number of major resource projects has grown by 200 percent between 2003 and 2006, and the trend is continuing. As much as $300 billion in capital investment in resource projects is possible in the next 5 to 10 years. The current regulatory system cannot keep up with this demand.
The Government of Canada is committed to a modern, efficient and effective regulatory system that will protect the environment and improve competitiveness. The MPMO and the related investment in the regulatory system is complementary to a number of other initiatives announced in Budget 2007. For example, the Government of Canada implemented a new regulatory policy, the Cabinet Directive on Streamlining Regulation, and committed to reducing the regulatory and administrative paper burden on small business by 20 percent. The Government also committed $22 million over two years to enhance its environmental law enforcement capacity.
The MPMO will report to Cabinet through the Minister of Natural Resources. The MPMO will also support an interdepartmental Deputy Ministers' Committee, which will comprise Deputy Ministers from Natural Resources Canada, Environment Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Transport Canada, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, and the President of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency. Further information can be found at: http://www.mpmo-bggp.gc.ca/index-e.php
One of the services the MPMO will provide is the integration of Crown consultation requirements with Aboriginal groups at the beginning of the process - further demonstrating the government's commitment to consulting with and listening to Canadians, particularly those who would be most directly affected by resource development projects.
According to their new website, the MPMO will advance the principles of transparency, predictability, timeliness and accountability in the Government of Canada's approach to the review of major resource project applications, maximizing the efficiency and effectiveness of the regulatory review process. The MPMO will:
- provide a single point of entry into the federal regulatory process for industry and for all interested Canadians;
- develop project-specific agreements among federal departments and agencies, and advance the use of time lines and service standards;
- work with federal regulatory departments and agencies to make sure all lines of communication are open and everyone understands their role;
- maintain a project tracking and monitoring system so that industry and interested Canadians can monitor major resource project applications as they proceed through the environmental assessment and regulatory review process;
- report progress to Canadian on a biannual basis;
- recommend longer term improvements to the regulatory system, based on ongoing monitoring data, on research and on the best information available; and
- strive to improve the integration of all Canadian regulatory jurisdictions as they apply to major natural resource projects.
The Government of Canada is committed to a modern, efficient and effective regulatory system that will protect the environment and improve competitiveness. The MPMO and the related investment in the regulatory system is complementary to a number of other initiatives announced in Budget 2007. For example, the Government of Canada implemented a new regulatory policy, the Cabinet Directive on Streamlining Regulation, and committed to reducing the regulatory and administrative paper burden on small business by 20 percent. The Government also committed $22 million over two years to enhance its environmental law enforcement capacity.
The MPMO will report to Cabinet through the Minister of Natural Resources. The MPMO will also support an interdepartmental Deputy Ministers' Committee, which will comprise Deputy Ministers from Natural Resources Canada, Environment Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Transport Canada, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, and the President of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency. Further information can be found at: http://www.mpmo-bggp.gc.ca/index-e.php
