EnergyBC

Resource

Essential Questions

•	How do we know how much oil and gas is there, how much it's worth? Do we really need it?
•	Who actually owns the resources and the revenues?
•	Who decides ownership and resource sharing?
•	Who is responsible for stewardship, risks and benefit?
•	Would the lifting of the moratorium "open the floodgates", and if so, are there any public provisions or mechanisms to close them?

As of 1972, federal and provincial moratoriums have been in place prohibiting any form of offshore exploration for oil and gas resources in British Columbia. Since that time, the question of whether or not to lift the moratoria has been raised on many occasions. The most contentious area surrounding any decision involves the existing jurisdictional and regulatory settings. There are numerous unresolved issues including:

Constitutional Jurisdiction (more...)

Who owns any potential resources? The federal government has jurisdiction over all of Canada's offshore waters, however there is question as to whether or not the waters of Hecate Strait are classified as offshore.

Resource Estimates (more...)

How much oil and gas is there? Petroleum estimates are based upon the amount of geological knowledge for a basin. Due to the limited number of surveys done in the Queen Charlotte Basin, estimates are still considered highly speculative.

Regulatory Responsibilities (more...)

Who will oversee the various stages of operations? What environmental assessments will be required? If the safe and proper management of any potential resources cannot be established, the debate over whether or not to proceed with exploration will be moot.

First Nations (more...)

What role will First Nations groups have in any decisions to lift the moratoria? Offshore oil and gas development in British Columbia would be the first of its kind to fully address the issue of first nations land claims. Several tribes have expressed concern over the impact of operations on the local environment and traditional industries and ways of life.

Find Out More:

Constitutional Jurisdiction & Ownership | Resource Estimates | Regulatory Responsibilities | First Nations