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Canada

Ottawa has made no decision on lifting Arctic offshore drilling ban, Carney says

The possible end of a decade-old moratorium on Arctic offshore oil and gas exploration would affect energy investment and northern self-government.

Photo: The Globe and Mail

What happened

Ottawa is considering lifting its moratorium on offshore oil and gas exploration in the Western Arctic, according to Finance Canada. The Globe and Mail Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Tuesday that the government has not made a decision about lifting the moratorium. BNN Bloomberg Carney said the budget item is capacity funding for Inuit leadership and is not a decision about lifting the moratorium. BNN Bloomberg Canada's Minister of Northern and Arctic Affairs said any discussion of the moratorium's future would respect existing agreements, Inuit and territorial self-government, and Canada's environmental standards. BNN Bloomberg

Around it

The federal budget released last week earmarked $1-million in 2027-28 for oversight of fossil fuel exploration in the region, rising to $3-million the following year. The Globe and Mail BNN Bloomberg reported $11 million over four years for governance and oversight of offshore oil and gas activities in the Arctic Ocean. BNN Bloomberg The Northwest Territories has urged Ottawa to revisit the policy for years, and Nunavut has more recently joined the call. The Globe and Mail Northwest Territories Deputy Premier Caroline Wawzonek called the budget line the biggest update she has had in a while. The Globe and Mail

Sources

  1. The Globe and MailOttawa considering lifting moratorium on offshore oil and gas in Western Arctic
  2. BNN BloombergCanada has not made a decision about lifting Arctic drilling ban, Carney says

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