Case Studies

Facilitate the entry of a U.S.-based post-secondary education provider into the Alberta market by managing provincial and municipal government relations. The project focused on navigating complex regulatory requirements and public policy frameworks to establish a new operational presence within the province.

IMC provided support related to stickhandling legislation, regulations, and public policy affecting the higher education sector. Activities included monitoring provincial and municipal government developments and ensuring full compliance with provincial requirements through formal registration with the Alberta Provincial Ethics Commission. IMC’s role involved analyzing the local political and regulatory landscape to guide the client through the necessary administrative and legislative channels.

The engagement enabled the client to secure the required regulatory approvals to operate within the jurisdiction. These milestones were achieved on a timeline that exceeded the efficiency of approval processes in any other jurisdiction where the client sought similar authorizations. The work established a clear regulatory pathway for the institution’s expansion into the Canadian market.

Enable a natural gas producer to navigate complex regulatory, community, and commercial hurdles associated with exploration and pipeline development in the Northwest Territories. The engagement sought to establish a viable pathway for the Mackenzie Valley Pipeline amidst competing infrastructure proposals and evolving land claim negotiations.

IMC performed a preliminary assessment of the regulatory landscape, competitive environment, and stakeholder dynamics to inform a long-term advocacy strategy. This included identifying key players within federal, territorial, and Indigenous governments, as well as conducting a comparative analysis of competing pipeline routes. IMC developed a comprehensive communications and issues management plan designed to align internal corporate objectives with external community and government interests.

The planning process provided the producer with a detailed critical path and a structured framework for engaging a consortium of industry partners. These activities enabled the transition from a neutral market position to a proactive leadership role in advocating for the most cost-effective infrastructure route. The resulting communication vehicles established a foundation for ongoing negotiations with regulatory bodies and northern communities regarding benefits agreements and land use.

Evaluate and develop regional rail infrastructure to optimize inbound delivery of logs for a pulp mill.

IMC supported the economic analysis and the negotiations leading to the investment by a third-party rail operator in various infrastructure and upgrades, so that the project could proceed.

The project proceeded and provided multi-million dollar annual cost savings for the client. The agreement terms were structured so that later, a large payment was made from the successor rail operator to the pulp mill when the successor rail company decided to use the rail for other purposes.

Enable an industry-led consortium of large greenhouse gas (GHG) emitters to assess and advance the policy, technical, and commercial foundations for a potential carbon capture and storage network in Alberta.

IMC’s role was primarily to support government relations, policy and regulatory activities. IMC also provided a technology assessment of capture technologies and supported economic analysis.

The engagement led to provincial government commitments to proactively develop a policy and regulatory framework, as well as a decision fund for key infrastructure.

Identify federal and provincial regulatory pathways to (i) discredit the purported “needs” basis for increasing ethane supplies in Alberta and (ii) frustrate third-party activities aimed at developing new National Energy Board (NEB) or Alberta Energy and Utilities Board (EUB)–regulated ethane extraction facilities.

IMC’s gas and NGL experts began by addressing key issues associated with the EEP: (a) the Alberta petrochemical industry’s contention that there was a “need” for new ethane; (b) the desire to remove ethane from the Alliance Pipeline in Alberta; and (c) the facility application requirements related to potential new ethane extraction projects. The team reviewed applicable provisions of the National Energy Board Act, Alberta’s energy regulations, and relevant regulatory decisions—particularly the NEB’s certification of the Alliance Pipeline and subsequent NEB and EUB rulings related to the proliferation of ethane extraction facilities in Alberta. The review analyzed authorizations for exporting rich gas for liquids extraction in the United States, provincial straddle plants, and other ethane extraction facilities. Regulatory procedural mechanisms, including reviews, re-hearings, information requests, and complaint filings, were catalogued to identify available regulatory levers.

The analysis produced a client-ready roadmap of regulatory and related options across both federal and provincial jurisdictions. It set out a range of short-term and ongoing proactive and reactive actions to defend against improper governmental and regulatory incentives for increasing ethane supplies, detailing when and how to engage with each body. It also established a monitoring plan for regulatory filings to gain additional insights into competitor activities and potential policy changes. Finally, it outlined a number of regulatory and commercial means that could frustrate competitors, including through regulatory reviews, complaints, and deep engagement in review processes.

Assess Alberta’s electricity pricing outlook for a planned industrial project. Understand how market fundamentals, fuel costs, and policy conditions may shape long-term power exposure and investment planning.

IMC reviewed provincial and regional energy forecasts, drawing on data from utilities, industry research, and internal modelling. A 250-megawatt combined-cycle gas scenario was developed to test indicative pool prices under varying gas cost assumptions. The analysis examined transmission constraints, intertie capacity with neighbouring regions, and the potential role of cogeneration in offsetting purchased power. Sensitivities were evaluated to capture the impact of fuel price movement and regulatory change on overall market dynamics.

The study provided the client with a clear understanding of Alberta’s electricity market fundamentals, supporting more confident project planning and investment decisions.

Enable the acquisition and restart of a bankrupt Canadian paper mill by supporting efforts to secure a labour agreement aligned with the new business plan and financing conditions.

IMC supported and participated in negotiations between an investment company and four local unions representing the mill’s employees. The resulting agreement addressed wages, pensions, severance, and job flexibility, while introducing new governance rights for employees as shareholders. It also aligned workforce structure with operational targets and cleared a critical path for closing the transaction.

The labour agreement secured workforce stability, unlocked the acquisition, and enabled a successful restart under new ownership, creating a durable foundation for day-to-day operations and future investment.

Stabilize a Canadian paper mill by executing a whole-of-business restructuring, including finance, operations, labour, and key inputs, while securing long-term Crown timber supply.

IMC worked on-site during the initial receivership period as the Vice President and provided embedded leadership through the restructuring. We supported the purchase of core assets out of bankruptcy and built a refinancing plan with one key lender. The restructuring included cost reduction in major vendor accounts, including power and natural gas. We negotiated long-term Crown conifer supply and conditional hardwood access and set up cross-border transload operations to lower transportation costs and provide for new fibre sources. IMC also advanced investment in a new wastewater treatment system to meet environmental requirements and operating needs, supported a new labour deal, and led pension plan restructuring to support long-term viability.

The mill’s refinancing proceeded, and the company had strong financial results.