To help Québec meet its emission reduction targets, the province introduced amendments to two draft GHG regulations in the June 8, 2012 edition of the Québec Official Gazette: (i) Regulation respecting mandatory reporting of certain emissions of contaminants into the atmosphere, and (ii) Regulation respecting a cap-and-trade system for greenhouse gas emission allowances.
Amendments to the Regulation respecting a cap-and-trade system for greenhouse gas emission allowances are intended to link the Quebec system with the California system as well as those of future partners such as Ontario and British Columbia. To this end, it specifies system registration admissibility conditions and necessary documents, as well as the procedure regulating emission rights trading and auctions, and provides the conditions for the delivery of offset credits, including protocols regarding certain admissible projects. Finally, amendments were made to adjust the regulation further to the adoption of Bill 89, An Act to amend the Environment Quality Act in order to reinforce compliance, by providing for administrative penalties and stronger sanctions.
The Regulation respecting mandatory reporting of certain emissions of contaminants into the atmosphere was also amended in order to complete the necessary harmonization with Western Climate Initiative (WCI) rules by adding declaration protocols. It provides, among other things, that the obligation to audit GHG emission declarations only applies to emitters subject to the GHG cap-and-trade system. In Québec, 2012 is a transition year during which regulated entities will have an opportunity to become familiar with the cap-and-trade system. The first carbon market compliance period will begin on January 1, 2013.