Canada's New Intergovernmental Green Deals
A deep dive into the latest Canada Gazette reveals new federal-provincial environmental pacts, major telecom petitions, and key trade protection decisions.
The Canada Gazette often reads like the government’s fine print, a dense collection of official notices that are easy to overlook. Yet, if you look closely, it provides a clear, unvarnished view of the machinery of federal governance in action. The latest edition from October 18, 2025, is no exception. It details significant new environmental agreements designed to streamline emergency response, highlights a major challenge to a CRTC telecom decision by industry giants, and outlines ongoing efforts to protect Canadian industries from unfair foreign competition. These are not headline-grabbing announcements, but they are the essential, foundational actions that shape national policy.
Environmental Cooperation Solidified
The federal government has formally negotiated new environmental occurrences notification agreements with the governments of Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, Saskatchewan, and Yukon. The notice was given by the Minister of the Environment under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999.
The core purpose of these agreements is to create a more efficient, single-window system for reporting environmental emergencies. For companies and individuals, this reduces the burden of having to notify multiple levels of government separately when an incident like an oil or chemical spill occurs. Under the new framework, 24-hour authorities in the provinces and territories will receive the initial notification and then transfer that critical information directly to Environment and Climate Change Canada. This ensures, as the notice states, a “timely and effective oversight of any response that may be warranted.”
The proposed agreements are now open for a 60-day public consultation period, starting from October 18, 2025. If you’re interested in the specifics, you can request copies of the agreements directly from the department. All public comments must reference the Canada Gazette publication date and be submitted to the Minister of the Environment.
Telecom Giants Petition Government
In the telecommunications sector, a significant regulatory battle is brewing. The government has given notice that it received three separate petitions concerning a recent Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) decision, Telecom Decision CRTC 2025-154.
The petitions, submitted to the Governor in Council, come from some of the country’s biggest telecom players:
Bragg Communications (Eastlink), Cogeco, and Saskatchewan Telecommunications filed a joint petition.
The Competitive Network Operators of Canada and TekSavvy Solutions Inc. also filed jointly.
Rogers Communications Canada Inc. submitted its own petition.
Under the Telecommunications Act, the Governor in Council (the formal term for the federal cabinet) has the power to vary, rescind, or refer a CRTC decision back for reconsideration. This is a powerful tool that allows the elected government to overrule the independent regulator. Interested parties now have until December 2, 2025, to file submissions on these petitions.
Trade and Deregistration Updates
Protecting Local Industry
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and the Canadian International Trade Tribunal (CITT) have been active in enforcing Canada’s trade laws.
On October 9, 2025, the CBSA made a preliminary determination of dumping and subsidizing related to cast iron soil pipe from the People’s Republic of China. As a result, provisional duties are now payable on these goods to level the playing field while the CITT conducts a full inquiry into the potential injury to the Canadian industry.
Separately, the CITT is initiating an expiry review of a long-standing order concerning the dumping and subsidizing of “oil country tubular goods” (steel pipes for the oil and gas sector) from China. The CITT and CBSA will determine if the expiry of the order is likely to result in the continuation of dumping and injury to the domestic industry.
End of an Era for Marijuana Party
Finally, the Chief Electoral Officer has officially deregistered the Marijuana Party, effective October 31, 2025. The notice states this action was taken due to the party’s failure to comply with sections 412 and 415 of the Canada Elections Act. Four of its affiliated electoral district associations in Essex, Quebec City, Thunder Bay, and Windsor-Tecumseh were also deregistered.
The Data Brief
Environmental Pacts: The federal government has finalized notification agreements with Alberta, B.C., Manitoba, Ontario, Saskatchewan, and Yukon to streamline reporting for environmental emergencies like chemical spills.
Public Consultation: The proposed environmental agreements are open for a 60-day public consultation period ending in mid-December 2025.
Telecom Petitions: Rogers, Cogeco, Eastlink, SaskTel, and TekSavvy are petitioning the federal cabinet to vary or rescind a recent CRTC telecom decision. The deadline for public comment is December 2, 2025.
Trade Actions: Provisional anti-dumping duties have been applied to cast iron soil pipe from China, and a review is underway for a similar order on oil country tubular goods.
Political Deregistration: The Marijuana Party has been officially deregistered for failing to meet its obligations under the Canada Elections Act.
Source Documents
Canada Gazette, Part I, Volume 159, Number 42. (2025, October 18). King’s Printer for Canada.