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Martin Ignasiak KC

Partner

Head of Energy Regulatory Practice

Head of Energy Regulatory Practice | Email

T: 403.298.3121

Email

Calgary / Toronto / Vancouver

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Martin Ignasiak
 
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  • Recent Recognition
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T: 403.298.3121


Email

Calgary / Toronto / Vancouver

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  • Education
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  • Recent Experience
  • Recent Recognition
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  • Recent Experience
  • Recent Recognition
  • Insights, News & Events
  • Related Services

Martin works closely with clients across Canada in developing and executing strategies for obtaining regulatory approvals for large scale industrial projects—including mines (diamonds, iron ore, oil sands, gold, coal), oil & gas, pipelines, and electric generation facilities (gas, renewable). In his capacity as a regulatory lawyer, Martin has negotiated numerous benefit agreements. He also has extensive experience in electricity market regulation and tolls and tariffs for pipelines and other regulated facilities.

What Clients Say

"Martin is very forward-thinking and strategic, he has a wealth of knowledge and breadth of experience."
"He provides very practical and insightful advice. He takes a holistic big-picture approach and is great at formulating strategy."

Recognized as a "stand-out lawyer," Martin regularly advises clients on the implications of regulatory regimes on their businesses. He advocates for government regulations and policies that provide project proponents and operators with a regime that is timely and predictable. Martin is keenly interested in assisting clients with the challenges and opportunities presented by the energy transformation, including in the areas of CCUS, hydrogen, critical metals and energy storage.

Martin has appeared before all levels of court, including the Federal Court, Federal Court of Appeal, and Supreme Court of Canada. He has also appeared before, among others, the Canada Energy Regulator (formerly the National Energy Board), the Alberta Energy Regulator (Energy Resources Conservation Board), Alberta Utilities Commission, Joint Review Panels established under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, the Alberta Environmental Appeals Board, the Mackenzie Valley Review Board and Land and Water Board, and the Nunavut Water Board.

He is highly ranked by Canadian and global legal directories including Chambers, Lexpert and Best Lawyers in oil & gas, regulatory, Aboriginal law, and environmental law. Martin was named a Lexpert Rising Star as one of Canada's leading lawyers under 40.

Education

University of Alberta, B.Comm., 1995 University of Alberta, LL.B., 1998

Bar Admissions

Alberta Northwest Territories British Columbia

Recent Experience

Alberta Transportation regarding the Alberta provincial government enlisting Martin Ignasiak to expedite the Springbank Dam Project. 
Kinder Morgan Canada in the proposed expansion of the Trans Mountain Pipeline System, including detailed route hearings before the Canada Energy Regulator (formerly the National Energy Board) concerning objections by the City of Burnaby and other parties in Segment 7.
Suncor Energy Inc. regarding its multi-billion dollar oil sands projects near Fort McMurray, Alberta, including the North Steepbank Mine Extension, the Voyageur Upgrader and Firebag, including a public hearing before the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board.
Imperial Oil Resources Ventures Limited regarding its approximately $10-billion Kearl oil sands mine near Fort McMurray, Alberta, including a public hearing before a joint federal-provincial review panel.
Kineticor Resource Corp. in the development and financing of the $1.5-billion Cascade Power Project. 
Transalta Corporation in proceedings before the Alberta Energy Regulator and the Alberta Court of Appeal with respect to its opposition to proposed hydraulic fracturing operations and the associated risk of induced seismicity in proximity to TransAlta's Brazeau Dam. 
Canadian Natural Resources Limited in proceedings before the Canada Energy Regulator regarding tolls and tariffs applicable to the Enbridge Canadian Mainline pipeline. 
Liricon Capital in its transformational Banff Eco-Transit Hub Project which will change the way people move through Banff National Park and Banff townsite. The project includes an aerial transit from Banff townsite to Mt. Norquay Ski Resort.
An International renewable energy company, in connection with the acquisition and development of a portfolio of solar PV generation projects in Alberta, bringing them from early permitting stage to full approval.
Brion Energy Inc. before the Alberta Utilities Commission regarding the routing of the Alberta Powerline Fort McMurray West 500 kv transmission line.
FortisAlberta Inc. with respect to multiple AUC proceedings and subsequent Court of Appeal proceedings regarding the interpretation of the Electric Utilities Act as it pertains to the AESO customer contribution scheme. 
Horus Energy regarding regulatory matters for the 216 MW Dunmore solar project, including obtaining regulatory approval for the project from the Alberta Utilities Commission.
Numerous ISD applications and applications for self-supply on behalf of various project proponents in the oil & gas industry and other industries.
Pinebrook Golf & Country Club before the Alberta Utilities Commission regarding the routing of a transmission line.
Regional Power with regard to providing legal and regulatory advice for applications to the Alberta Utilities Commission and related interconnection matters before the Alberta Electric System Operator to construct and operate the 90 MW Irma Wind Power Project located near Irma, Alberta.
Renewable Energy Systems Group regarding current regulatory matters for the 150 MW Nova solar project.
Westbridge Renewable Energy Corp. regarding the 230 MW Georgetown solar and battery energy storage project, including obtaining regulatory approval for the project from the Alberta Utilities Commission. 
Aura Power Renewables Ltd. regarding regulatory matters associated with the Fox Coulee Solar Project including representation at an oral hearing before the Alberta Utilities Commission—the first hearing of its kind for a commercial scale solar development.
innogy SE in its decision to construct two solar projects in Canada with a total capacity of 57 MW. 
Canadian Solar Industries Association in its response to the Alberta Electric System Operator's (AESO's) changed approach to accommodating distributed generation on the Alberta grid, including representation at the Alberta Utilities Commission hearing to consider the AESO's 2018 tariff and its impact on solar and other community and distributed generation projects.
TransAlta Corporation before the Alberta Utilities Commission in relation to the regulatory process to consider the AESO rules for the implementation of a capacity market. 
TC Energy in the Sundre expansion and extension of the NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd. natural gas pipeline system in Alberta which involved a public hearing before the Canada Energy Regulator (formerly the National Energy Board). 
TC Energy regarding the White Spruce Pipeline which involved a public hearing before the Alberta Energy Regulator. 
Riverdale Resources in its regulatory and environmental permitting for the Grassy Mountain Steelmaking Coal Project in the Crowsnest Pass, including advice on Indigenous issues. 
Ferus Natural Gas Fuels Inc. in its Alberta Energy Regulatory application for its proposed liquefied natural gas facility near Villeneuve, Alberta. 
TransAlta Corporation with respect to its defence in the first contested enforcement proceeding brought by the Market Surveillance Administrator of Alberta, including representation throughout the investigation, advising TransAlta on its document disclosure obligations (including related privilege matters) and representation at an oral hearing before the Alberta Utilities Commission. The case involved allegations of market manipulation and trading in Alberta’s electricity market using non-public outage records.
Coalspur Mines (Operations) Ltd. regarding its $870-million Vista coal mine near Hinton, Alberta, including a public hearing before the Alberta Energy Regulator and expansion projects.
TC Energy regarding its proposed Coastal GasLink natural gas pipeline from the Groundbirch area of British Columbia to Kitimat on the west coast, including an environmental assessment before the BC Environmental Assessment Office.
Brion Energy Corporation (formerly Dover Operating Corp.) with regard to its Dover Commercial Project, a proposed oil sands project north of Fort McMurray, Alberta, including a public hearing before the Alberta Energy Regulator.
Teck Resources Limited regarding its $14.5-billion Frontier Oil Sands Project north of Fort McMurray, Alberta, including a public hearing before a joint review panel of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency and Alberta Energy Regulator.
TOTAL E&P Canada regarding its approximately $20-billion Joslyn oil sands mine and upgrader near Fort McMurray, Alberta, including a public hearing before a joint federal-provincial review panel.
De Beers Canada Inc. regarding its Snap Lake and Gahcho Kué diamond mines in the Northwest Territories, including public hearings before the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board and Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board.
Petro-Canada Oil Sands Inc. with regard to its $11-$17 billion Fort Hills Sturgeon Upgrader near Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, including a public hearing before the Energy Resources Conservation Board.
Baffinland Iron Mines Corp. regarding its $4-billion Mary River Iron Ore Project in Nunavut, including a public hearing before the Nunavut Water Board.
Cardinal River Coal regarding its Cheviot Coal Mine near Hinton, Alberta, including a public hearing before a joint federal-provincial review panel.
Acted on behalf of industry in litigation concerning the applicability of the former Canadian Environmental Assessment Act in Prairie Acid Rain Coalition v. Canada (Minister of Fisheries and Oceans) and True North Energy Corporation [2004] F.C. 1265 affirmed 2006, and Pembina Institute for Appropriate Development v. Canada (Minister of Fisheries and Oceans) and Cardinal River Coals Ltd. [2005] F.C. 1123

Recent Recognition

Chambers Canada

Canada’s Leading Lawyers for Business
Recognized in Energy: Oil & Gas (Regulatory), Energy: Provincial Regulatory & Litigation (Alberta)

Chambers Global

The World's Leading Business Lawyers:
Recognized in Energy: Oil & Gas (Regulatory)

The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory

Recognized in Environmental Law; Energy (Oil & Gas); Indigenous Law; Calgary’s leading oil and gas lawyers in 2021

Lexpert Rising Stars

Recognized as a Lexpert Rising Star: Leading Lawyers Under 40

Best Lawyers in Canada

"Lawyer of the Year", Environmental Law (2023)
Recognized in Aboriginal Law, Energy Law; Energy Regulatory Law; Environmental Law; Natural Resources Law

Legal 500

Recognized in Aboriginal Law, Environment, Energy and Natural Resources: Oil & Gas

Who's Who Legal

Recognized in Energy (International)

Thomson Reuters

"Stand-out Lawyer"

Benchmark Litigation Canada

Recognized in Dispute Resolution; Environmental; Commercial; Aboriginal; Regulatory Investigations (Litigation Star) Named Queen’s Counsel

Insights, News & Events

In The News

Martin Ignasiak on Blueberry River First Nations Implementation Agreement in Financial Post

March 20, 2023
       

Blog

Saskatchewan Makes it Easier to Adopt Orphan Wells

March 15, 2023
       

Articles

From Shield to Sword: The Evolution of Indigenous Economic Rights in Canada

February 17, 2023
       

Related Services

Energy Regulatory
Energy
Mining
Agribusiness, Food & Beverage
Oil & Gas
Power & Renewables
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