Programme de surveillance des sables bitumineux : rapport annuel 2023-2024

Abstract

Since February 2012, the governments of Canada and Alberta have worked as partners to implement and jointly manage the Oil Sands Monitoring (OSM) Program. The program strives to improve the characterization of the condition of the environment and enhance understanding of the cumulative effects of oil sands development activities in the oil sands area of Alberta. To ensure that the program is responsive to multiple knowledge sources, emerging priorities, and input from Indigenous communities and key stakeholders, program implementation has taken an adaptive approach in building on existing monitoring. The annual monitoring activities are determined through the program’s governance structure within a consensus based decision-making process, and reflects input, perspectives, and concerns from representatives of Indigenous communities, government, industry, and key stakeholders (Appendix A). For 2023-24, the work planning process resulted in the OSM Program Co-Chairs approving funding in the amount of $55,235,189 for 37 projects to support the delivery of monitoring, evaluation, and reporting activities. In total, the 37 work plans approved resulted in 302 deliverables. The approved budget includes up to $50 million in industry billing by the Oil Sands Environmental Monitoring Program Regulation. The actual expenditure incurred in 2023-24 was $46,736,955 with a total of $8,498,234 reported as underspent against the total work plan budget. A cumulative total for the period from April 1, 2020 to March 31, 2024 of $18,029,964 was held as unspent revenue for the OSM Program. Reported variances were largely due to multiple factors such as delays in project leads receiving funding notifications, delays in setting up non-standard contracts, supply chain issues, managing staff transitions, hiring challenges and delays, funding condition deadlines not being met, contracts not being successfully executed, procurement delays, limited air charter availability and compressed field and sampling activities owing to wildfires, deferred community engagement and training and the consolidation of some activities resulting in efficiencies gained. From 2012 to the end of the 2023-24 reporting period, the program’s evaluation and reporting efforts have yielded over 1,000 products reporting on the condition of the environment in the oil sands region of Alberta, specifically in relation to potential impacts of oil sands development. These include peer-reviewed papers, technical reports, program reports, presentations, and workshop materials. A full list of the 86 publications in 2023-24 are presented in Appendix C. Alberta and Canada recognize that the monitoring, evaluation, and reporting outputs of the OSM Program inform multiple needs and is a responsibility that has long-term implications. Both governments remain committed to working with all OSM Program participants to continue implementing a robust and scientifically credible monitoring program for the oil sands that is inclusive, collaborative, and adaptive.