Canada Energy Regulator (CER) – Measuring stakeholder trust and confidence

Our research project gathered feedback from key stakeholders about their perceptions of the CER along with suggestions for improvement.

About the project

In 2025, the Canada Energy Regulator (CER) hired Environics Research to conduct in-depth interviews with stakeholders who are familiar with the organization’s work or are affected by CER-regulated infrastructure as part of its Public Opinion Research (POR) program.

Our study was designed to support the CER’s 2024-27 Strategic Plan and specifically the implementation of a strategic priority focused on trust and confidence. The CER’s desired outcome for this priority is:

Canadians, stakeholders, and Indigenous rights holders impacted by the infrastructure we regulate trust that we enable safe, reliable, competitive and environmentally sustainable energy transmission.

Goals

The primary goal of this study was to help measure key audience’s trust and confidence in the regulator. The research team also gathered feedback and recommendations about various areas of the CER’s work including its engagement and communications programs.

Our Approach

Environics conducted a series of in-depth interviews with a targeted group of CER stakeholders who had interacted with the CER in approximately the last calendar year including representatives from:

Indigenous Peoples

Landowners and Landowner Organizations

Municipalities

Regulated Industry

Application of Insights

The research provided insights on a wide range of topics from overall impressions and awareness of the CER to perceptions about trust, confidence, timeliness, fairness and transparency. Participants also provided suggestions about ways to increase trust and reduce regulatory and administrative burden. The CER will use these research findings to inform its regulatory programs, activities and initiatives. View the full report here.

Trust & Confidence Report

For the CER, public opinion research is not just about data collection but about listening and learning. We will use these research findings to help shape our strategies, improve our regulatory services and continue to build trust and confidence with the public we serve.

Genevieve Carr – Canada Energy Regulator

Executive Vice President – Transparency and Strategic Engagement

About The CER

The Canada Energy Regulator works to keep energy moving safely across Canada. The organization keeps watch over companies operating oil and gas pipelines and electrical powerlines that cross a national, provincial or territorial border. The CER also:

Reviews applications for new energy projects and upgrades to current projects.
Provides oversight of oil and gas exploration and activities on frontier lands and offshore not otherwise regulated under territorial law or joint federal/provincial accord.
Decides what can be transported in pipelines and how much companies can charge for their services.
Approves the export and import of natural gas and the export of oil.
Provides Canadians with energy statistics, analysis and information.

Learn more about CER