Archived - Update on the Modernization of the Act, Regulations, and Systems (MARS)

Reporting Period April 1, 2016 to June 30, 2016

A special, early draft of the Phase I regulations (prior to approval and pre-publication in Canada Gazette, Part I), was discussed with First Nations at the Saskatchewan Symposium on April 7, 2016 at the Saskatoon Inn and Conference Centre in Saskatoon. The feedback IOGC received will be addressed along with public feedback during pre-publication in Canada Gazette, Part I. IOGC has worked with the First Nations Gazette to publish the special, early draft of the regulations so interested First Nations can prepare their feedback in advance, for submission during the Canada Gazette, Part I public feedback period. In early May, an important milestone was reached when the Department received the official, Blue-stamped regulations from Justice Canada. This is the version of the regulations that will be pre-published in the Canada Gazette, Part I. This key IOGC initiative remains on track and it is projected that the Indian Oil and Gas Act, 2009 and its Phase I regulations will both become law at the end of calendar year 2016 or early 2017.

Also in early May, the RIMS2 (Resource Information Management Systems 2) project received Treasury Board approvals for its project and expenditure implementation. IOGC continues to work with the oil and gas-producing provinces to ensure data is in sync prior to automated data exchange with Petrinex (PETRoleum INformation EXcellence).

With the new Indian Oil and Gas Act, 2009 and the updated regulations coming into force, IOGC continues to prepare administratively for the enforcement of the new oil and gas regime beginning the day it becomes law. There are two parallel tracks governing this important process: 1) MARS Implementation, that will ensure processes, policies, procedures, and tools are constructed; and, 2) Organizational Change Management (OCM), that will ensure IOGC's staff are well-equipped. To assist staff through this process, a contract is being prepared for an OCM service provider over the long-term. This will enable IOGC to be better-positioned to respond to both internally-driven change (i.e., changes resulting from the new Act and regulations) and externally-driven change (i.e., those changes that affect whole-of-government such as new e-mail and document management systems).

For further information, please contact IOGC at:
Indian Oil and Gas Canada / Pétrole et gaz des Indiens du Canada
100 – 9911 Chiila Blvd.
Tsuu T'ina AB T2W 6H6
Phone: (403) 292-5625
Fax: (403) 292-5618
Email: aadnc.contactiogc.aandc@canada.ca