About
The Standing Orders of the House of Commons give all standing committees the mandate to exercise certain general powers. Standing Order 108(2) gives committees the power “to study and report on all matters relating to the mandate, management and operation of the department or departments of government which are assigned to them.” For a more detailed overview of parliamentary committees, please consult the Compendium of House of Commons Procedure.
The Standing Committee on Natural Resources may examine issues related to the four industrial sectors that constitute the mandate of the Department of Natural Resources (NRCan): the energy sector, the forest sector, the minerals and metals sector and the earth sciences sector. In addition to considering bills referred to it, the Committee focuses on expenditures and activities of the organizations that are part of the Natural Resources portfolio:
- one Crown Corporation: Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL);
- two independent regulators: the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) and the Canada Energy Regulator (CER);
- two offshore petroleum boards: the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board (CNLOPB) and the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board (CNSOPB);
- two boards that report to the Minister as required: the Northern Pipeline Agency (NPA) and the Energy Supplies Allocation Board (ESAB).