June 15, 2017
Senate passes Bill S-229
On May 2, Bill S-229, an Act respecting underground infrastructure safety, was adopted after a third reading in the Senate.
Inspired by the “Call or Click Before You Dig” principle, Senator Grant Mitchell’s bill is designed to protect underground infrastructure and enhance public safety.
If passed by the House of Commons in exactly the same wording, the bill would then become law with final approval (Royal Assent) by the Governor General. The law would require operators of underground infrastructure that is federally regulated or on federal land to register the infrastructure with a notification centre; require people who are planning to dig to first make a “locate request” with the relevant notification centre; and require operators of underground infrastructure to locate requests by either locating and marking the ground, providing a clear description of the location of the underground infrastructure in the vicinity of the proposed excavation, or providing an all clear to proceed with excavation.
At the Bill’s second reading on Oct. 2, 2016, Senator Mitchell gave special thanks to Mike Sullivan, president of Alberta One-Call and executive director of the Canadian Common Ground Alliance (CCGA), for his hard work in getting the bill to this stage.
The CCGA’s vision is to be Canada’s unified damage prevention voice and attract members from all Canadian national organizations and associations who share common damage prevention and public safety solutions.
For more information, visit the CCGA website at canadiancga.com.
Inspired by the “Call or Click Before You Dig” principle, Senator Grant Mitchell’s bill is designed to protect underground infrastructure and enhance public safety.
If passed by the House of Commons in exactly the same wording, the bill would then become law with final approval (Royal Assent) by the Governor General. The law would require operators of underground infrastructure that is federally regulated or on federal land to register the infrastructure with a notification centre; require people who are planning to dig to first make a “locate request” with the relevant notification centre; and require operators of underground infrastructure to locate requests by either locating and marking the ground, providing a clear description of the location of the underground infrastructure in the vicinity of the proposed excavation, or providing an all clear to proceed with excavation.
At the Bill’s second reading on Oct. 2, 2016, Senator Mitchell gave special thanks to Mike Sullivan, president of Alberta One-Call and executive director of the Canadian Common Ground Alliance (CCGA), for his hard work in getting the bill to this stage.
The CCGA’s vision is to be Canada’s unified damage prevention voice and attract members from all Canadian national organizations and associations who share common damage prevention and public safety solutions.
For more information, visit the CCGA website at canadiancga.com.