Becoming Arctic-Ready

Published September 2011

This report analyzes Canada’s regulatory and licensing framework for offshore oil and gas in the Arctic—finding significant gaps at each of the five stages of hydrocarbon development—and makes 11 specific recommendations for government, including:

• Engage in meaningful consultation with Inuit groups at key stages of the process, from participation in early environmental assessments to decisions about oil-spill preparedness and royalty sharing.

• Require strategic environmental assessment of a proposed licensing area in the Arctic Ocean before calling for industry nominations for places it wishes potentially to explore.

• Require that operators meet minimum Arctic-based standards for drilling performance and environmental protection before bids on offshore licences are accepted and ensure that companies have the financial resources to meet worst-case oil-spill liability requirements.