‘Reduce Red Tape’: Ottawa Removes Barriers Around Movement of Oil Service Rigs After Request From Alberta, Saskatchewan

An oil drilling rig operates in a field near Cremona, Alta., on July 12, 2021. The Canadian Press/Jeff McIntosh

Alberta and Saskatchewan have secured a regulatory exemption from Ottawa that will allow oil service rigs to move freely between provinces, according to a Sept. 12 notice issued by Transport Canada.

In June 2019, the premiers of both provinces signed a memorandum of understanding to help remove provincial barriers imposed by federal regulations that “needlessly” restricted the movement of service rigs.