Cap-and-Trade Program

Cap-and-Trade Program is winding down

Nova Scotia is transitioning from the cap-and-trade program to an Output-Based Pricing System for large emitters for the 2023-2030 period.

During this transition period, the cap-and-trade program continues to apply to greenhouse gas emissions for the 2019-2022 period with 2023 being the final year of the program. There are 2 final auctions in 2023 with a reserve sale scheduled for August 2023. The final compliance deadline for all participants under the program is December 15, 2023.

See the Auction details section for information on Auctions.

Key dates

  • June 7, 2023 – First auction held
  • June 23, 2023 – Application period opens for second auction
  • July 24, 2023 – Application period closes for second auction
  • August 10, 2023 – Bid guarantees due for second auction
  • August 22, 2023 – Second auction held

Cap-and-trade program rules

Legislation and regulations

The Environment Act, Cap-and-Trade Program Regulations and framework document (PDF) outline how the program works. They include greenhouse gas emission caps, rules for distributing, buying and selling greenhouse gas allowances, and other details.

The  Quantification, Reporting, and Verification of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Regulations and Standards for Quantification, Reporting, and Verification of Greenhouse Gas Emissions (PDF) outline the rules for reporting greenhouse gas emissions.

The Petroleum Product Pricing Regulations allow the Utility and Review Board to apply the carbon price to gas and diesel.

Program participants

The following are mandatory cap-and-trade program participants:

Legal Name

CITSS Entity ID

GHG ID

Canadian Enterprise Gas Products, Ltd

NS2865

20020

Canadian National Railway Company

NS2879

20001

Eastward Energy

NS2869

30002 

Elbow River Marketing Ltd

NS2892

20005

Imperial Oil

NS2881

20008

Irving Oil Ltd

NS3378

20007, 20009,
20020, 30003

Kildair Service ULC

NS3022

20027

KIROS Energy Marketing ULC

NS2987

20025

Lafarge Canada Inc

NS2882

10003

Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline Ltd Partnership

NS2955

30001

NGL Supply Co Ltd

NS2856

20011

Northern Pulp Nova Scotia Corporation

NS2883

10004

Nova Scotia Power Inc

NS2880

10005, 10006, 10007, 10008, 10009, 20028, 40001

Parkland Corporation

NS2867

20012

Plains Midstream Canada ULC

NS2860

20014

Scotia Propane Ltd

NS2982

20023

Suncor Energy Marketing Inc

NS3070

20021

Suncor Energy Products Partnership

NS2859

20016

Superior Plus LP

NS2873

20017

Supreme Tank Inc

NS2990

20026

Valero Energy Inc

NS2870

20018

Wilson Fuel Company Ltd

NS2884

20019

Summary of market transactions

As transactions occur between companies in the cap-and-trade program, this section is updated to provide annual summaries of those transactions. 

2019: No transactions occurred

2020: Summary of transactions (PDF)

2021: No transactions occurred

2022: No transactions occurred

Reporting emissions

  • Companies must use the standard reporting form to submit greenhouse gas emissions reports and any additional information listed in the regulations and standards to Nova Scotia Environment.
  • Reporting via SWIM is preferred. Follow the instructions (PDF) to register on SWIM. You must register before you can use it. Otherwise, reports can be submitted to GHGreporting@novascotia.ca.
  • Greenhouse gas emissions reports must be verified by an accredited third-party organization. Lists of eligible verification bodies are available at:
  • An attestation form must accompany greenhouse gas emissions reports for fuels sold to a facility that is participating in Nova Scotia’s cap-and-trade program.
  • This attestation form may also be used to document fuels that are exported outside of Nova Scotia or used exclusively in aviation or marine applications. Other documentation deemed acceptable by the verification body may also be used.

Managing participant accounts

Participating companies can manage their accounts using the Compliance Instrument Tracking System Service (CITSS). Forms and documents required to manage accounts:

User registration

Send any questions about the registration process to capandtradehelp@novascotia.ca.

Auction details

Auctions are administered through CITSS and Auction Platform. Each auction will have a single round of bidding using sealed bids. The emission allowances will be auctioned in lots of 1,000 emission allowances. For auctions held in 2023, the minimum price will be $25.72.

Further details about auctions are available in the resources:

Auction notices and results

June 10, 2020

December 2, 2020

June 9, 2021

November 23, 2021

June 8, 2022

December 7, 2022

June 7, 2023

August 22, 2023

Public Proceeds Report

Green Fund