Bill 17: An Act to amend the Act respecting natural gas storage and natural gas and oil pipelines in order to authorize the implementation of a pilot project relating to the exploration for underground reservoirs or certain fluids, or their operation or exploitation (modified title)

This bill primarily affects energy and resource sector companies operating in Quebec — think small to mid-sized firms involved in subsurface exploration, geothermal energy, carbon storage, brine or fluid extraction, or companies looking to test new underground technologies. If you're running a project that involves drilling, subsurface exploration, or working with underground reservoirs in Quebec, this creates a new regulatory pathway to get government authorization for pilot-scale work that might not fit neatly into existing rules. Importantly, operators working on private land or Crown-leased land will need written permission from the landowner or tenant at least 5 days before accessing the site and 30 days before starting any actual work. The pilot program process requires consultation with local communities — including municipalities and Indigenous communities — meaning businesses will need to build that stakeholder engagement into their project planning before seeking government approval.