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Message from Premier Heather Stefanson
A MESSAGE FROM THE PREMIER honourable heather stefanson
On behalf of the Government of Manitoba, it is a pleasure to welcome you to the 2022 edition of the Manitoba Energy Review. Our government recognizes the important and critical role that the oil & gas sector plays in the Manitoba economy and we continue to promote policies that encourage economic development and job creation in this sector and all industries.
Our government is pleased to see industry activity rebounding last year following the significant impacts COVID-19 in 2020. In 2021 there were 170 wells drilled, more than doubling the 83 wells drilled in 2020. Over 2.12 million cubic metres, or 13.3 million barrels, of oil were produced from Manitoba’s 6,384 producing and support wells. In total, $415 million was also spent by the petroleum industry on exploration and development of oil & gas resources in 2021.
The newly formed Department of Natural Resources and Northern Development supports the provincial government’s renewed focus on responsible development of Manitoba’s abundant world-class natural resources. The department has increased capacity, with the creation of a new director position to lead reducing red tape for the mining, oil & gas sector, while also increasing support for the Manitoba Geological Survey to provide industry with the foundational geological picture required for investment.
Our government has also established a new Economic Development Board of Cabinet to focus on building on Manitoba’s current and emergency competitive advantages and promoting Manitoba as an attractive investment location. By collaborating with existing investors, owners, and entrepreneurs, the board will also serve as a catalyst to drive increased investment and job growth in Manitoba.
Removing unnecessary administrative burdens to improve regulatory processes is a key commitment to ensure Manitoba is always open for business. Our government continues to work with industry on improvements to the petroleum fiscal regime and information delivery systems. The partnership with western provinces in the adoption of the Petrinex reporting system implemented last year has resulted in streamlining administrative processes such as introducing an online tax and royalty calculator, making reporting easier, and reducing the risk of overpayments by oil & gas producers in Manitoba. Manitoba is also set to introduce a new and simplified tax and royalty regime by the end of 2022 that will further reduce red tape for producers.
For almost seven decades, in both good times and bad, the oil & gas industry continues to adapt and innovate. We continue to work with the oil & gas industry to make Manitoba become Canada’s most improved province. Together, we will keep Manitoba’s resource sector resilient and strong.
