Bill C-15 · 39th Parliament · Stephen Harper
Donkin Coal Block Development Opportunity Act
An Act respecting the exploitation of the Donkin coal block and employment in or in connection with the operation of a mine that is wholly or partly at the Donkin coal block, and to make a consequential amendment to the Canada--Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Resources Accord Implementation Act
Government bill. Became law.
- IntroducedOct. 29, 2007
- Debated in principleNov. 20, 2007
- Studied by a committeeDone
- Passed its first chamberNov. 20, 2007
- Passed the second chamberDec. 12, 2007
- Became lawDec. 14, 2007
Leading supporters
Ranked by the part each played: who is responsible for the bill, who carried it, and who spoke for it most.
- Stephen HarperPrime Minister
- Donald H. OliverSenate · Sponsor in the Senate
- Rodger CuznerWelcomes the legislation coming forward after negotiations and notes community resilience.
- Robert ThibaultHighlights the bill's importance for Cape Breton's economy and history of coal mining.
- Gerald KeddyCalls the act extremely important to Nova Scotia and Cape Breton and notes cooperative federal-provincial work.
- Gerry ByrneShares time to speak to the bill and defends its substance against objections.
- David Andersonintroduces bill and states it creates economic development and jobs.
- Mr. Bradley TrostAddresses the bill positively as assisting growth of a mining project in Cape Breton.
Who carries this bill
Arrows run from the person responsible to those who answer to them on this bill. The critic leads the Senate’s scrutiny and answers to no one on it.
Where members stand
How it changed on the way
41% of the text as introduced was changed or removed by the time it became law (2,578 words introduced, 2,498 passed).
substantial changeintent mostly kept
The core framework for Donkin coal block exploitation, royalties, and labour regulations stayed the same. The main alteration was a new exclusion in the definition of gas to keep coal-bed methane outside federal petroleum rules.
- Added exclusion for coal-bed methane in the definition of gas.
Before: “"gas" means natural gas and includes all substances, other than oil, that are produced in association with natural gas;”
After: “"gas" means natural gas and includes all substances, other than oil, that are produced in association with natural gas, but does not include coal-bed methane associated with the development or operation of a coal mine;”
How precisely it is written
mixedChallenging the law: HardDisputing a charge: Moderate
The Act fixes the Donkin coal block with exact latitude and longitude lines in the schedule and names three federal statutes that do not apply. Most content, however, is supplied later by regulations that may adapt provincial laws in any way the Governor in Council considers necessary.
Open to argument
“any adaptations that the Governor in Council considers necessary”
The phrase lets officials rewrite incorporated provincial rules according to their own view rather than fixed statutory criteria.“any power, function or duty that the Minister considers necessary for the administration”
Delegation power rests on the Minister's subjective assessment instead of an enumerated list.“respecting all other matters relating to the exploitation of the Donkin coal block”
The open-ended phrase gives no limit on what topics regulations may cover.
Clear-cut
“Donkin coal block" means the coal and coal- bed methane deposits located in the area described in the schedule.”
The definition refers to a single, measurable geographic area set out in precise coordinates.
Discretion. The Governor in Council and the Minister decide the content of all regulations, the scope of any adaptations, which provincial rules to incorporate, and which ministerial powers to delegate.
Challenging the law itself. Core definitions and the schedule supply concrete boundaries, so a facial challenge on vagueness would face the specific text.
Disputing a charge under it. A person could dispute whether an adapted provincial provision still matches the original offence after changes made by regulation.
Read by a language model from the royal assent text; every quoted phrase appears in the bill. A reading of the drafting, not legal advice.
Did it work?
no evaluation found
Who lobbied on it
No lobbying registration naming this bill is loaded.
Stages and dates from LEGISinfo.