Canada Gazette, Part I, Volume 147, Number 17: COMMISSIONS

April 27, 2013

CANADA-NOVA SCOTIA OFFSHORE PETROLEUM BOARD

CANADA-NOVA SCOTIA OFFSHORE PETROLEUM RESOURCES ACCORD IMPLEMENTATION ACT

Call for Bids No. NS13-1

The Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board (CNSOPB) [the “Board”] has made a Call for Bids pursuant to the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Resources Accord Implementation Act, S.C. 1988, c. 28, as amended, and the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Resources Accord Implementation (Nova Scotia) Act, S.N.S. 1987, c. 3, as amended, for six Exploration Licences covering the following parcels of land in the Nova Scotia offshore area (the “Lands”):

Land parcel No. 1 — All petroleum substances in all geological formations
Grid (see footnote 1) Hectares Sections
44-00-60-15 5 565 60, 68-70, 78-80, 87-90, 97-100
44-10-59-30 12 593 45-47, 54-57, 64-67, 74-80, 83-90, 93-100
44-10-59-45 31 485 3-10, 13-20, 23-30, 33-40, 43-50, 53-60, 63-70, 72-100
44-10-60-00 37 050 1-100
44-10-60-15 37 050 1-100
44-20-59-30 1 110 91-93
44-20-59-45 14 800 1-3, 11-13, 21-23, 31-33, 41-43, 51-55, 61-65, 71-75, 81-85, 91-95
44-20-60-00 18 500 1-5, 11-15, 21-25, 31-35, 41-45, 51-55, 61-65, 71-75, 81-85, 91-95
44-20-60-15 18 500 1-5, 11-15, 21-25, 31-35, 41-45, 51-55, 61-65, 71-75, 81-85, 91-95
Total hectares (Approximate) 176 653  
Land parcel No. 2 — All petroleum substances in all geological formations
Grid (see footnote 2) Hectares Sections
44-20-59-15 2 585 94-100
44-20-59-30 25 850 4-10, 14-20, 24-30, 34-40, 44-50, 54-60, 64-70, 74-80, 84-90, 94-100
44-20-59-45 22 150 4-10, 14-20, 24-30, 34-40, 44-50, 56-60, 66-70, 76-80, 86-90, 96-100
44-20-60-00 18 450 6-10, 16-20, 26-30, 36-40, 46-50, 56-60, 66-70, 76-80, 86-90, 96-100
44-30-59-15 3 685 91-100
44-30-59-30 36 850 1-100
44-30-59-45 36 850 1-100
44-30-60-00 36 850 1-100
44-40-59-30 14 696 61-100
44-40-59-45 36 740 1-100
44-40-60-00 12 865 1-7, 11-17, 21-27, 31-37, 41-47
44-50-59-30 14 656 61-100
44-50-59-45 36 640 1-100
45-00-59-30 14 612 61-100
45-00-59-45 10 959 1-30
Total hectares (Approximate) 324 438  

Land parcel No. 3 — All petroleum substances in all geological formations

Parcel 3 includes partial sections, as noted in the table below, which abut the boundary of the Gully Marine Protected Area as defined under section 2 of the Government of Canada's Gully Marine Protected Area Regulations (SOR/2004-112). This boundary is defined as a rhumb line connecting point 44°06′ N, 59°20′ W to point 44°13′ N, 59°06′ W (NAD27 datum).

Grid (see footnote 3) Hectares Sections
44-10-59-00 555 90(see footnote a), 99(see footnote b), 100(see footnote c)
44-10-59-15 10 508 8(see footnote d), 9(see footnote e), 10, 18(see footnote f), 19-20, 28-30, 38-40, 48-50, 58-60, 68-70, 78-80, 88-90, 98-100
44-10-59-30 3 330 8-10, 18-20, 28-30
44-20-59-00 19 950 43(see footnote g), 44-50, 52(see footnote h), 53(see footnote i), 54-60, 61(see footnote j), 62(see footnote k), 63-70, 71(see footnote l), 72-100
44-20-59-15 34 365 1-93
44-20-59-30 5 550 1-3, 11-13, 21-23, 31-33, 42-43, 53
44-30-59-00 22 110 41-100
44-30-59-15 33 165 1-90
44-40-59-00 22 044 41-100
44-40-59-15 36 740 1-100
44-40-59-30 22 044 1-60
44-50-59-00 21 984 41-100
44-50-59-15 36 640 1-100
44-50-59-30 21 984 1-60
45-00-59-00 21 918 41-100
45-00-59-15 36 530 1-100
45-00-59-30 21 918 1-60
Total hectares (Approximate) 371 335  

Land parcel No. 4 — All petroleum substances in all geological formations

Parcel 4 includes partial sections, as noted in the table below, which abut the boundary of the Gully Marine Protected Area as defined under section 2 of the Government of Canada's Gully Marine Protected Area Regulations (SOR/2004-112). This boundary is defined as a rhumb line connecting point 44°13′ N, 59°06′ W to point 43°47′ N, 58°35′ W (NAD27 datum).

Grid (see footnote 4) Hectares Sections
44-00-58-30 2 226 88-90, 98-100
44-00-58-45 2 783 8-10, 18(see footnote m), 19-20, 28(see footnote n), 29(see footnote o), 30(see footnote p), 40(see footnote q)
44-10-58-30 22 230 41-100
44-10-58-45 27 593 1-30, 31(see footnote r), 32-40, 41(see footnote s), 42(see footnote t), 43-50, 52(see footnote u), 53(see footnote v), 54-60, 63(see footnote w), 64(see footnote x), 65(see footnote y), 66-70, 75(see footnote z), 76(see footnote aa), 77-80, 86(see footnote ab), 87(see footnote ac), 88-90, 97(see footnote ad), 98(see footnote ae), 99-100
44-10-59-00 592 9(see footnote af), 10(see footnote ag), 20(see footnote ah)
44-20-58-30 34 360 3-10, 13-20, 23-30, 32-100
44-20-58-45 36 950 1-100
44-20-59-00 13 448 1-10, 11(see footnote ai), 12-20, 21(see footnote aj), 22(see footnote ak), 23-30, 32(see footnote al), 33(see footnote am), 34-40
44-30-58-30 36 850 1-100
44-30-58-45 36 850 1-100
44-30-59-00 14 740 1-40
44-40-58-30 36 740 1-100
44-40-58-45 36 740 1-100
44-40-59-00 14 696 1-40
44-50-58-30 36 640 1-100
44-50-58-45 36 640 1-100
44-50-59-00 14 656 1-40
45-00-58-30 36 530 1-100
45-00-58-45 36 530 1-100
45-00-59-00 14 612 1-40
Total hectares (Approximate) 492 406  
Land parcel No. 5 — All petroleum substances in all geological formations
Grid (see footnote 5) Hectares Sections
44-20-58-00 14 022 8-10, 18-20, 28-30, 38-40, 48-50, 58-60, 66-70, 76-80, 86-90, 96-100
44-20-58-15 24 000 6-10, 16-20, 26-30, 36-40, 46-50, 53-60, 63-70, 73-80, 83-90, 93-100
44-30-57-45 18 425 51-100
44-30-58-00 36 850 1-100
44-30-58-15 36 850 1-100
44-40-57-45 18 370 51-100
44-40-58-00 36 740 1-100
44-40-58-15 36 740 1-100
44-50-57-45 18 320 51-100
44-50-58-00 36 640 1-100
44-50-58-15 36 640 1-100
45-00-57-45 18 265 51-100
45-00-58-00 36 530 1-100
45-00-58-15 36 530 1-100
45-10-57-45 18 215 51-100
45-10-58-00 18 215 1-50
45-20-57-45 3 640 51-52, 61-62, 71-72, 81-82, 91-92
45-20-58-00 3 640 1-2, 11-12, 21-22, 31-32, 41-42
Total hectares (Approximate) 448 632  

Land parcel No. 6 — All petroleum substances in all geological formations

Parcel 6 includes partial sections, as noted in the table below, which abut the boundary between Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador, as defined by the Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Area Line Regulations (SOR/2003-192). The Nova Scotia–Newfoundland and Labrador boundary line along Parcel 6 is defined as a geodesic line between the points 45°41′31.4″ N, 57°31′33.5″ W and 44°55′51.9″ N, 57°10′34.0″ W (NAD83 datum). These points transform to 45°41′31.35″ N, 57°31′36.40″ W and 44°55′51.75″ N, 57°10′36.95″ W (NAD27 datum) using the NTv2 transformation.

Grid (see footnote 6) Hectares Sections
44-30-57-15 18 400 6-10, 16-20, 26-30, 36-40, 46-50, 56-60, 66-70, 76-80, 86-90, 96-100
44-30-57-30 23 935 6-10, 16-20, 26-30, 36-40, 46-50, 56-60, 66-100
44-30-57-45 18 425 1-50
44-40-57-15 36 740 1-100
44-40-57-30 36 740 1-100
44-40-57-45 18 370 1-50
44-50-57-15 36 640 1-100
44-50-57-30 36 640 1-100
44-50-57-45 18 320 1-50
45-00-57-15 36 530 1-100
45-00-57-30 36 530 1-100
45-00-57-45 18 265 1-50
45-10-57-15 35 265 1-5, 6(see footnote an), 7(see footnote ao), 8(see footnote ap), 9(see footnote aq), 11-18, 19(see footnote ar), 20(see footnote as), 21-100
45-10-57-30 36 430 1-100
45-10-57-45 18 215 1-50
45-20-57-15 6 006 11(see footnote at), 12(see footnote au), 21, 22(see footnote av), 31-32, 41-42, 51-52, 61-62, 71-72, 81-82, 91-92
45-20-57-30 7 280 1-2, 11-12, 21-22, 31-32, 41-42, 51-52, 61-62, 71-72, 81-82, 91-92
45-20-57-45 3 640 1-2, 11-12, 21-22, 31-32, 41-42
Total hectares (Approximate) 442 371  
Submission of bids

Bids must be received by the Board before 4 p.m., Atlantic Standard Time (AST), October 24, 2013, at the following address: CALL FOR BIDS NS13-1, Christine Bonnell-Eisnor, Advisor, Regulatory Policy/Rights Management, Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board, T.D. Centre, 18th Floor, 1791 Barrington Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 3K9.

Bids must be in the form attached as Appendix II to the Call for Bids NS13-1 and must be submitted in a sealed envelope marked “CALL FOR BIDS No. NS13-1 (Parcel # _).”

Each bid must be accompanied by a Bid Deposit in the amount of $10,000, in the form of a certified cheque or bank draft payable to the Receiver General for Canada.

The Bid Deposit will be returned, without interest, if the Work Deposit is posted within the time specified and any outstanding Environmental Studies Research Fund (ESRF) levies are paid as described below.

Bid Deposits will be returned to unsuccessful bidders, without interest, following the announcement of the winning bid and receipt of the Work Deposit by the successful bidder.

The failure of the successful bidder to post the Work Deposit within the specified time will result in forfeiture of the Bid Deposit and disqualification of the bid, and in that event the Board may, if it sees fit, award the Exploration Licence to the second highest bidder without making another Call for Bids.

Bid selection

Bidding on each parcel will be based solely on the amount of money proposed to be expended on the exploration of the respective parcel within Period 1 of the term of the Exploration Licence (“Work Expenditure Bid”). Allowable Expenditures are determined in Schedule B of the Exploration Licence and are provided in Appendix III of the Call for Bids. A maximum of 5% of the Work Expenditure Bid may be applied as education and training (E&T) and research and development (R&D) Allowable Expenditures as defined in Schedule B of the Exploration Licence.

No other factors will be considered in selecting the winning bid and the Board is not obligated to accept any bid. The minimum bid per parcel that will be considered is $1,000,000 of work expenditure.

Activity authorization

Before carrying out any work or activity in the offshore area, an operator must first obtain an Operating Licence.

No activities related to the exploration for, development of or transportation of petroleum on the Lands can be conducted without a specific authorization issued by the Board. Operators are required to meet certain regulatory requirements before the Board can approve offshore petroleum-related activities. The regulatory framework which governs offshore petroleum operations consists of the acts that implement the Accord, their regulations, and Board guidelines and policies.

Canada-Nova Scotia benefits plan

The legislation requires that a Canada-Nova Scotia benefits plan must be submitted to, and approved by, the Board prior to the approval of any development plan, or the authorization of any other work or activity in the Nova Scotia Offshore Area. Canada-Nova Scotia Benefits Plan Guidelines can be found on the Board's Web site.

Environment

In accordance with the legislation, prior to the authorization of any petroleum-related activities on the Lands, the operator must demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Board that such activities can be conducted in an environmentally safe manner. Special precautions, such as enhanced environmental assessments, more stringent mitigation measures and environmental effects monitoring may be required in some cases.

Upon issuance of the Exploration Licence, the successful bidder must pay ESRF levies under Part VII of the Canada Petroleum Resources Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. 36 (2nd Supp.), for the year in which the licence is issued and retroactive levies for the two preceding years. Thereafter, ESRF levies as fixed from time to time by the federal Minister of Natural Resources will be payable unless the Interest Owner surrenders the licence prior to the payment due date.

Matters of the ESRF are not administered by the Board, but are the responsibility of the federal Minister of Natural Resources. ESRF levies are determined by multiplying the number of hectares of land included in the licence by the ESRF rate for the applicable region.

Term

The term of each Exploration Licence will be nine years, consisting of two consecutive periods referred to as Period 1 and Period 2.

Period 2 immediately follows Period 1 and consists of the balance of the nine-year term of the licence. In order to validate the licence for Period 2, the drilling of a validation well must be commenced within Period 1 and diligently pursued to termination in accordance with good oilfield practice.

Work deposit

The successful bidder will be required to post security for the performance of work. The amount of the required security will be 25% of its Work Expenditure Bid. The successful bidder must post this Work Deposit within 30 days of being notified that its bid was successful, as a condition of issuance of the Exploration Licence.

This Work Deposit is refundable to the extent of 25% of approved Allowable Expenditures, as more particularly described in the form of the Exploration Licence.

Work Deposits must be in the form of a bank draft, money order, certified cheque, promissory note, or an irrevocable standby letter of credit payable on demand to the Receiver General for Canada. A promissory note must be accompanied by a bank letter of guarantee issued by a Canadian chartered bank which states their agreement to honour on presentment for payment. A bank draft, money order, certified cheque or letter of credit must be issued by a bank found in Schedule I or II of the Bank Act (S.C. 1991, c. 46). The form of the promissory note and bank guarantee, or the letter of credit, must be acceptable to the Board. An acceptable form of a promissory note and bank guarantee and of a letter of credit are attached as Appendix V in the Call for Bids.

The interest owner is not obligated to perform work under the Licence. However, if the interest owner does not perform work in the full amount of its Work Expenditure Bid, the unrefunded balance of the Work Deposit will be forfeited to the Receiver General for Canada upon the expiry, surrender or cancellation of Period 1.

Rentals
No rentals are payable in respect of Period 1. Refundable rentals are payable annually during Period 2 at the following rates:
Year Amount per hectare
7 $2.50
8 $5.00
9 $7.50

Rentals will be refunded upon annual application to the Board to the extent of approved Allowable Expenditures incurred during the specific year of Period 2 as described in the form of the Exploration Licence. The form of the Exploration Licence is attached as Appendix III in the Call for Bids.

Indemnity

Interest Holders are required to at all times jointly and severally indemnify the Board and Her Majesty the Queen in right of Canada and in right of the Province of Nova Scotia against all actions, claims and demands that may be brought or made by any person by reason of anything done or omitted to be done under this Licence by, through or under the interest owner or an interest holder, in relation to those portions of the Lands with respect to which they hold shares, and all costs that the Board or Her Majesty the Queen may incur in connection with any such action, claim or demand.

For purposes of this section, the expression “Her Majesty the Queen” shall not include any Crown corporation.

Written submissions

The public is invited to submit written comments to the Board on the Lands included in the Call for Bids. Such submissions will be considered by the Board before the issuance of Exploration Licences. The deadline for the submission of written comments is 4 p.m., Atlantic Standard Time (AST), October 10, 2013. Written submissions should be sent to Christine Bonnell-Eisnor, Advisor, Regulatory Policy/Rights Management, Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board, T.D. Centre, 18th Floor, 1791 Barrington Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 3K9, 902-422-5588 (telephone), 902-422-1799 (fax), callforbids@cnsopb.ns.ca (email).

Amendments to Call for Bids

The Board may amend the Call for Bids at any time up to 10 days prior to the closing date. Any amendment made to the Call for Bids shall be published on the Board's Web site (www.cnsopb.ns.ca). Bidders are advised to refer to the Board's Web site prior to submitting their bids.

Further information

This notice contains a summary only of the terms and conditions of the Call for Bids. Interested persons should obtain a copy of the full text of the Call for Bids, which will prevail over this summary in the case of any conflict or inconsistency. A complete bid package, including the bid form and the form of the Exploration Licence, may be obtained free of charge from the Board at the above address, at www.cnsopb.ns.ca or may be requested by fax sent to 902-422-1799 or by telephoning 902-422-5588.

Halifax, March 18, 2013

STUART PINKS, P.Eng.
Chief Executive Officer

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CANADIAN RADIO-TELEVISION AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

NOTICE TO INTERESTED PARTIES

The Commission posts on its Web site the decisions, notices of consultation and regulatory policies that it publishes, as well as information bulletins and orders. On April 1, 2011, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission Rules of Practice and Procedure came into force. As indicated in Part 1 of these Rules, some broadcasting applications are posted directly on the Commission's Web site, www.crtc.gc.ca, under “Part 1 Applications.”

To be up to date on all ongoing proceedings, it is important to regularly consult “Today's Releases” on the Commission's Web site, which includes daily updates to notices of consultation that have been published and ongoing proceedings, as well as a link to Part 1 applications.

The following documents are abridged versions of the Commission's original documents. The original documents contain a more detailed outline of the applications, including the locations and addresses where the complete files for the proceeding may be examined. These documents are posted on the Commission's Web site and may also be examined at the Commission's offices and public examination rooms. Furthermore, all documents relating to a proceeding, including the notices and applications, are posted on the Commission's Web site under “Public Proceedings.”

CANADIAN RADIO-TELEVISION AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

PART 1 APPLICATION

The following application was posted on the Commission's Web site between April 12, 2013, and April 18, 2013:

  • North Superior Broadcasting Ltd.
  • Marathon, Ontario
  • 2013-0560-8
  • Request to change the location of CFNO-FM Marathon's studios
  • Deadline for submission of interventions, comments and/or answers: May 13, 2013

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CANADIAN RADIO-TELEVISION AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

DECISIONS

The complete texts of the decisions summarized below are available from the offices of the CRTC.

2013-190 April 17, 2013

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Thunder Bay and Sioux Lookout, Ontario

Approved — Application to amend the broadcasting licence for the English-language radio station CBQT-FM Thunder Bay to replace its AM transmitters CBLS Sioux Lookout and CBQW Hudson with an FM transmitter at Sioux Lookout.

2013-191 April 17, 2013

Rangtel Inc.
Greater Toronto Area, including Ajax, Aurora, Brampton, Brock, Burlington, Caledon, Clarington, Halton Hills, King, Markham, Milton, Mississauga, Newmarket, Oakville, Oshawa, Pickering, Scugog, Uxbridge, Vaughan, Whitby and Whitchurch-Stouffville, Ontario

Approved — Application for a broadcasting licence to operate a terrestrial broadcasting distribution undertaking to serve the above-noted communities in the Greater Toronto Area.

2013-192 April 17, 2013

Odyssey Television Network Inc.
Across Canada

Approved — Application to add Greek Cinema to the List of non-Canadian programming services authorized for distribution.

2013-193 April 18, 2013

2251723 Ontario Inc.
Barrie, Greater Toronto Area (including Ajax, Aurora, Bolton, Brampton, Caledon, Claremont, Etobicoke, Georgetown, King City, Markham, Milton, Mississauga, Nobleton, North York, Pickering, Richmond Hill, Scarborough, Toronto, Vaughan and Woodbridge), Hamilton-Niagara, Kingston, Kitchener-Waterloo, London, Oshawa, Ottawa, Peterborough, Sudbury, Thunder Bay and Windsor, and their surrounding areas, Ontario

Approved — Application to add terrestrial broadcasting distribution undertakings and various conditions of licence to a regional broadcasting licence.

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PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION

PUBLIC SERVICE EMPLOYMENT ACT

Permission granted

The Public Service Commission of Canada, pursuant to section 116 of the Public Service Employment Act, hereby gives notice that it has granted permission, pursuant to subsection 115(2) of the said Act, to Claude Turpin, Senior Project Officer (AS-5), Human Resources Planning and Strategies, Human Resources Branch, Department of Public Works and Government Services, Gatineau, Quebec, to be a candidate, before and during the election period, for the position of Councillor for the City of Gatineau, Quebec, in a municipal election to be held on November 3, 2013.

April 17, 2013

KATHY NAKAMURA
Director General
Political Activities and Non-Partisanship Directorate

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