[All] Good news to share

[water.lulu at yahoo.ca]

Hi folks
The Competition Bureau is a Federal regulator that governs how corporations behave in Canada to assure a fair market and corporate responsibility.  It provides rules of governance designed to protect businesses, investors and the public from unfair business practices. Within that policy are provisions to prevent "Abuse of Dominance". That is when companies who have the lion's share of a technology lock out emerging technologies from having a fair shot at providing services in a given marketplace. It is an illegal practice basically. 
The Bureau may seek legal action or in Non-criminal matters it can bring the issue to the Competition's Tribunal or other courts for decisions. Alternative case resolutions are possible too or it can approve parties directly to encourage compliance. 
So having been a participant of both the National Energy Board hearings as well as the Canadian Nuclear Safety Committee hearings I have observed a great deal of things that indicate the use of abuse of dominance provisions situation with these two regulators including the following issues: 
-The exclusion of assessments on alternative power sources to meet the same energy needs-The lack of Crown Consultation-Pipeline systems installed previously are often no longer up to code. -The system lacks objective oversight agencies like Professional Engineers Ontario etc. -Building codes, engineering laws are all PROVINCIAL jurisdiction not Federal and this is unreasonable if it grants exemptions to safe engineering standards. 

I filed a formal complaint regarding the NEB and CNSC and it resulted in a call from experts who basically wanted to understand who I am what the concerns were. I basically explained that I personally come from a house full of engineers so I grew up understanding mechanics, issues of infrastructure and safety protocols.  I explained that the situation we are in isn't about good guys or bad guys here. What we are dealing with is outdated Federal planning policy that preceded current Provincial safety regulations.  We need to make sure that the infrastructure projects are built to code regardless if they are on Provincial or Federal lands to assure public safety and reasonable engineering. 
I stated, the Canadian government understands the value of stopping abuse of dominance. It's enshrined in the Competition Bureau policy.The Government also recognizes the values of safety codes and engineering standards as recognized at the Provincial Level. So why would the government exempt oil, gas and nuclear from meeting those same safety standards on federal lands?
The good news I received today is that they are taking on the case.  My roll in filing the compliant is complete so from here the Board will advance the issue forward. I'm not privy to further communications beyond what the Bureau decides to publicly disclose but it's great to get this ball rolling. 

Lulu :0)



   
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