Tsuut'ina First Nation Chief Roy Whitney was among the officials calling for federal reclamation funds to stay in Alberta. March 11, 2024. (Photo: Government of Alberta)

By David Opinko

Alberta

First Nations Chiefs call for leftover oil and gas reclamation funds to stay in Alberta

Mar 12, 2024 | 5:31 PM

The Chiefs of several First Nations in Alberta are asking that millions of dollars in federal funds stay in the province.

Since May 2020, Ottawa allocated $1 billion for its Site Rehabilitation Program to close and clean up old well, pipeline, and oil and gas sites in Alberta. That included $133.3 million for sites within Indigenous communities.

Money was given to more than 500 Alberta-based companies, but $137 million went unused. The federal government is now requesting that all of the leftover funds be returned to it.

Alberta Minister of Energy and Minerals Brian Jean, however, joined the local Chiefs in calling for the funds to stay in the province and be given to Indigenous communities to continue reclamation work.

“These are federal lands and the Site Rehabilitation Program provided dedicated federal funding for an economic relief program. If the federal government is serious about reconciliation, we encourage them to release the funds so this important work can continue. We look forward to finding more opportunities to continue our collaboration with Indigenous communities.”

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Minister of Indigenous Relations Rick Wilson said closure work was completed on 1,824 inactive well sites during the Indigenous community grant program, but that many still remain.

He explained that re-allocating the funds would help to maintain the momentum that was achieved during the Site Rehabilitation Program.

Enoch Cree Nation Chief Cody Thomas said it is important that this work be done sooner, rather than later.

“We acknowledge the work that has been done under the Site Rehabilitation Program, but there is more to be done. This is a liability of the lessees, and the Alberta Government is holding them accountable through the Well Closure Program,” said Thomas. “However, time is not on our side. We have a very limited land base and a growing population. We must do the necessary land stewardship immediately.”

Between sites on and off of Indigenous communities, a total of 34,963 applications were completed under the program.

At the time of publication, the federal government has not issued a response to the funding re-allocation request.