Overall, as of July 31st, $263-million in contracts have been issued to licensees to clean up inactive oil wells in Saskatchewan.
The federal government’s Accelerated Site Closure Program has led to strong participation in two provincial programs which have created new opportunities for the oil and gas sector to develop meaningful business relationships with First Nations and Metis contractors and Indigenous communities.

The First Nations Stewardship Fund and the Indigenous Business Credit Pool were announced this past January.  They are administered by the Saskatchewan First Nations Natural Resource Centre of Excellence in collaboration with the province and the Saskatchewan Research Council.

Minister of Energy and Resources, Bronwyn Eyre, says both programs have been well-received by Indigenous leaders, communities and the oil and gas sector.

The provincially administered First Nations Stewardship Fund directs up to $20-million in federal ASCP funding for site closure work in First Nations communities with inactive wells and the provincially administered Indigenous Business Credit Pool makes an additional $15-million in federal ASCP funding available to participating oil and gas producers.