NEWS

The CCGA applauds the Ontario Regional Common Ground Alliance on its efforts to pass Bill 8 - Mandatory One-Call for Ontario. As reported by Enbridge Gas Distribution, all three political parties in Ontario worked together to achieve this important goal.

One Call systems exist in the provinces of Québec, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia and in the City of Saint John, New Brunswick. Ontario's new legislation will lead to the implementation of a single 'One Call' system in the province making it easier for Ontarians to find out the location of underground infrastructure before they dig. Membership in the existing system is voluntary, and at times, Ontarians were required to make up to 13 separate calls to obtain this important information. All too often, this confusing process led to people digging without contacting local utilities for the location of underground wires, cables and pipes, a scenario that could be extremely dangerous or even deadly.

Although some regulators of buried utilities require their regulated companies to belong to a provincial One-Call system, membership in One-Call systems across Canada is largely voluntary. Realizing a One Call System serving every province in Canada and Mandatory One-Call legislation are two of the CCGA's goals and it is hoped that Ontario's success will lead other provinces to follow the same path.

Please click HERE for more details.

The Harper Government announced its Plan for Responsible Resource Development today. For the transmission pipeline industry, the Plan includes provisions of monetary penalties for violations of the National Energy Board Act.

Below are two bullet points addressing the new provisions:

• For the first time, authorizing the use of administrative monetary penalties for violations of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, the Nuclear Safety and Control Act and the National Energy Board Act. These penalties will be designed to address small contraventions quickly so that larger issues do not arise in the future. Further details on the penalties will be available once legislation is introduced;
• The proposed penalties could range from $25,000 to a maximum of $100,000 for violations of the Nuclear Safety and Control Act, and the National Energy Board Act, while the range of penalties under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act will be established through regulations;

To see the full announcement, click HERE.

 

The BCCGA is hosting a FREE Contractor Breakfast at the Sheraton Guilford Hotel in Surrey on April 18th between 7:00AM and 8:00AM.

You don't have to be a BCCGA Member to attend! Register for the breakfast at www.commongroundbc.ca

The ABCGA will be hosting two safety seminars on April 10th in Red Deer and April 12th in Bonnyville. Eric Giguere will be delivering the keynote address - a life-altering experience you won't want to miss!

Click HERE for the invitation!

The Manitoba Common Ground Alliance, a regional partner of the CGA, is a member driven organization dedicated to ensuring worker and public safety, environmental protection and the integrity of services by promoting effective damage prevention practices in connection with underground infrastructure activities.

The MCGA officially became a Regional Partner of the Common Ground Alliance in March 2011.

It is with disappointment that the CCGA, its Regional Partners across Canada and its National Stakeholders The Canadian Energy Pipeline Association and the Canadian Gas Association, announce the CRTC decision to deny our application for shared use of the 811 dialling code. For a Telecom proceeding, our application generated an unprecedented level of positive response from coast to coast. With that in mind, we remain confident there is a strong public desire to simplify access to One Call systems in Canada enhancing the integrity of our buried critical infrastructure and above all, better protecting public, worker and Community Safety. To that end, the CCGA and its partners are reviewing the CRTC's decision and considering next steps.

 

Click the link below to see the CRTC's decision:

 

English

http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2012/2012-167.htm

 

Francais:

http://www.crtc.gc.ca/fra/archive/2012/2012-167.htm

The National Energy Board released its Damage Prevention Framework (click HERE for French) earlier today outlining the go-forward steps it will take to effectively promote public and community safety and the integrity of federally-regulated pipelines in Canada.

The CCGA acknowledges the positive direction of the NEB's Damage Prevention Framework and is looking forward to collaborating with the Board to meet our common damage prevention goals.

- Mike Sullivan - Chair, CCGA

Damages to buried utilities dropped by roughly 70% in the United States following the introduction of 811 (3 digit "Call Before You Dig") in 2007 enhancing public safety and the security of buried infrastructure. In Canada, 811 was assigned to non-emergency medical services in 2005 yet only a handful of provinces use the number for this purpose. In July 2011, the Canadian Common Ground Alliance applied to the CRTC requesting shared use of 811 (press "1" for non-emergeny medical services and press "2" to request a locate of buried utilities before you dig). Response from the CRTC is pending.

The 811 Bike is a symbol of the ongoing public awareness ingenuity buried utility owners, operators and stakeholders share in the U.S. and the desire to do the same in Canada is enormous. Be a partner in safety, share this link!

LEONARD (LEN) KATZ appointed Acting Chairman of the CRTC on January 25, 2012.

Click HERE for more information.

In the December 2011 edition of their newsletter, Energy Pathways, Kinder Morgan - a CCGA Gold Sponsor - promotes the benefit of shared use of 811.

Click HERE to see the newsletter.