I'm pleased to introduce the National Energy Board's (NEB) Strategic Plan for 2006-2009 [HTML] [PDF: 76 KB] . The NEB's Strategic Plan sets our direction for the future, and guides all of our decisions.

We review our Strategic Plan annually to make sure that we are being proactive in meeting our vision, and that we are responsive to our stakeholders. In our 45 years of providing energy regulation and advice, and monitoring Canada's energy market, we have actively listened to and recognized the needs of stakeholders from industry, the public, non-governmental organizations, and fellow regulatory agencies, and continue to do so.

One response to our stakeholders' changing needs is reflected in our recrafted Vision and Purpose. The NEB's vision is to be "an active, effective and knowledgeable partner in the responsible development of Canada's energy sector for the benefit of Canadians". This vision clearly articulates our commitment to work proactively with our stakeholders, for the benefit of all Canadians.

In support of our Vision, our purpose reflects the clarity of our vision and establishes our core directives: "We promote Safety and Security, Environmental Protection and Efficient Energy Infrastructure and Markets in the Canadian public interest ' within the mandate set by Parliament in the regulation of pipelines, energy development and trade."

The fundamental message from our strategic planning review is that we're on the right track, but there are areas that require our concentrated effort right now. Moving forward, we are implementing three strategies to support our revitalized vision and purpose.

The first strategy is about the continuous improvement of our regulatory framework. We will be working on regulatory streamlining, accessible public participation processes, and transparent and efficient regulatory processes. Our second strategy tackles the challenge of providing up-to-date and relevant energy information and advice in a quickly changing energy environment.

Our third strategy - to enhance the NEB's capacity and culture - is critical to delivering on the first two. In the period covered by this strategic plan, the NEB will be addressing the significant challenge of recruiting and retaining qualified and experienced people in an extremely competitive labour market.

While there are many challenges before us, the Board is firmly committed to fulfilling its role in a manner that will help ensure that Canadians' future energy needs are met in a safe and secure manner while protecting the integrity of the environment and respecting the rights of affected citizens.

For additional information, see Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). [HTML]