Canada has not decided whether to lift Arctic drilling ban, Carney says
USO•Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canada has not decided whether to lift its Arctic offshore oil and gas exploration moratorium. The federal budget earmarks C$11 million over four years for Arctic offshore oversight; the moratorium is set to expire in 2028.
1. No decision on moratorium
Carney said the budget funding is for Inuit leadership capacity and does not represent a decision to lift the moratorium. He said any discussion of its future would respect existing agreements, Inuit and territorial self-government, and environmental standards, the government said.
2. Policy review and funding
Canada has maintained the moratorium since 2016 and reviews its Arctic offshore exploration policy every five years. The Toronto Star reported that the government is considering lifting the ban. Some Northern leaders have called for more fossil fuel development, while the 2023 Western Arctic-Tariuq Accord set out an agreement for resource management, regulation and revenue-sharing.
