Question Period Note: Arctic Offshore Oil and Gas

• The five-year science-based reviews that focussed on marine and climate change science in the Arctic offshore are completed and will inform next steps for Arctic oil and gas development.
• The Department is working with northern partners who co-developed the five-year science-based reviews to engage northern Indigenous coastal communities to share the findings of the reviews.
• Budget 2022 announced a one-time payment of $25.8 million to the Government of Yukon and Government of the Northwest Territories that will fulfill a lands and resources devolution agreement commitment.
• Budget 2022 announced $2.5 million over five years (2022-2027) to support the legal and policy capacity of the Inuvialuit to participate in implementing the Western Arctic – Tariuq (Offshore) Accord.

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If pressed on the Budget 2022 announcement

• The $25.8 million payment to the Government of Northwest Territories and the Government of Yukon is a one-time payment to fulfil a commitment in the 1993 Canada-Yukon Oil and Gas Accord. This amount is equivalent to the oil and gas revenues collected by Canada in the offshore since the signing of the 1993 Accord.

• In 2018, Canada committed to negotiate an oil and gas accord with the Governments of the Northwest Territories and Yukon, and the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation. The Western Arctic – Tariuq (Offshore) Accord will establish a new approach to oil and gas co-management and revenue-sharing. The transfer of historical revenues of the $25.8 million is unrelated to the negotiation of the Western Arctic Offshore Accord.

• Budget 2022 also announced $2.5 million in funding to the Inuvialuit to support their participation Western offshore Arctic Accord.