The C-NLOPB was created in 1986 through the Atlantic Accord and its associated, implementing federal and provincial legislation, the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Atlantic Accord Implementation Act, S.C. 1987, c. 3 and the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Atlantic Accord Implementation Newfoundland and Labrador Act, RSNL1990 c. C-2 (“the Accord Acts”). It regulates petroleum-related activities in the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Area. While the C-NLOPB is an independent regulator that operates at arms-length from the governments, some Board decisions (referred to under the Accord Acts as “Fundamental Decisions”) require government approval, as does its annual operating budget.

On June 2, 2025 amendments to the Atlantic Accord Acts came into force. These amendments expand the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board’s (C-NLOPB’s) mandate to include offshore renewable energy development and have renamed the C-NLOPB to the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Energy Regulator (C-NLOER).

The Regulator members consist of seven, part-time positions — three appointed by the Government of Canada and three by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, with a Chairperson who is appointed jointly by the two governments. The current Regulator members are: Kim Dunphy, Wes Foote, Roger Grimes, Brian Maynard, Sharon Murphy, Ted O’Keefe, and Karen Veitch. Mr. Grimes has been appointed by the Governments of Newfoundland and Labrador and Canada to serve as Chairperson.

C-NLOER Regulator Members

• • • 
      Roger Grimes, C.M. Regulator Member Chairperson
    • 
      Kim Dunphy Regulator Member
      Audit and Evaluation Committee Member
    • 
      Wes Foote, P.Eng. (Ret.) Regulator Member
      Governance Committee Member
    • 
      Brian Maynard, CA, CPA Regulator Member
      Audit and Evaluation Committee Chair
    • 
      Sharon Murphy Regulator Member
      Governance Committee Member
    • 
      Ted O’Keefe, P.Eng, MBA Regulator Member
      Governance Committee Chair
    • 
      Karen Veitch Regulator Member
      Audit and Evaluation Committee Member