Canada Funds Inuvialuit Talks on Arctic Drilling Moratorium

Prime Minister Mark Carney says Canada has not decided whether to lift its Arctic offshore oil and gas exploration moratorium, which is set to expire in 2028. The federal budget allocates $11 million over four years to Arctic oil and gas governance, including support for Inuvialuit, territorial and federal partners to consult and prepare for possible co-management; some budget materials describe considering a lift, but Carney says the funding itself is not a decision to do so. Northern leaders, including those in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, have advocated lifting the ban as a means of supporting economic self-sufficiency. The debate also reflects concerns about environmental risks and the challenges of containing a major spill in the fragile Arctic marine environment.