Business units
Our business units provide a range of services to support First Nations, industry, and other stakeholders. Detailed descriptions are provided below.
On this page
- Audit and litigation
- Compliance and enforcement
- Communication and executive services
- Engineering and geology
- Environment
- First Nation assertion of jurisdiction and capacity development
- Lease administration
- Major projects
- Negotiations, subsurface contracts, and research
- Policy
- Royalty
- Site closure program
Audit and litigation
Responsible for:
- supporting and funding First Nation-initiated audits and examinations
- coordinating IOGC-initiated production compliance reviews, audits, and inspections
- maintaining and upkeeping all records of audit activities
- managing IOGC litigation information and response, including coordinating with the Department of Justice
- developing and initiating litigation and arbitration strategies involving First Nations and industry by collaborating with legal counsel
Compliance and enforcement
Responsible for managing compliance activities across IOGC using a risk-based approach to decision-making including:
- coordinating with other business units to gather and centralize risk and compliance information for a holistic approach to regulatory compliance within IOGC
- coordinating and managing response to insolvencies
- coordinating and managing designation of IOGC's orphan site inventory
Communication and executive services
Responsible for providing strategic and tactical communication support including:
- supporting internal communication coordination
- leading and improving external communication
- managing IOGC's communication information and platforms in accordance with all applicable policies, guidelines, and legislative requirements
Engineering and geology
Responsible for:
- monitoring drainage and issuing offset (drainage) notices
- monitoring for instances of non-compliance such as subsurface trespass and non-productivity
- providing subsurface technical support such as subsurface lease continuation reviews, production allocation, and review of applications
- providing engineering and geological support to First Nations
- forecasting oil and gas production on designated First Nation lands
Environment
Responsible for overseeing federal and provincial environmental legislative requirements, and promoting environmental awareness and protection related to exploration, production and closure, including:
- ensuring all proposed oil and gas surface facilities and activities, including seismic, and construction of surface leases, access roads and pipeline rights of way, undergo an environmental review as required by the Impact Assessment Act
- reviewing applications and developing environmental protection terms including federal and provincial legislation requirements
- reviewing environmental audits and performing field inspections where necessary at surface facilities to monitor industry compliance with the environmental terms of surface contracts
- providing information and assistance to First Nations, industry representatives, and other stakeholders
- reviewing remediation plans in coordination with First Nations to ensure timely and appropriate remediation activities
- conducting reclamation inspections with First Nations and industry and ensuring the adequacy of reclamations prior to the surrender of surface contracts
First Nation assertion of jurisdiction and capacity development
Responsible for furthering First Nation initiatives in managing and controlling their oil and gas resources including:
- strengthening and enhancing relationships with First Nation clients, the IOGC Co-Management Board, and the Indian Resource Council
- providing guidance and support to IOGC and policy teams across government for service transfer initiatives and future responsibilities
- providing support to First Nations
- collaborating with the department on service transfer initiatives
Lease administration
Responsible for managing the lifecycle of oil and gas surface tenure, processing certain subsurface tenure transactions, and the verification and maintenance of corporate information, including:
- drafting and ensuring the execution of all surface tenure in accordance with negotiated terms and conditions and with federal government regulations
- administering all surface and subsurface tenure throughout their lives, including financial commitments, rent reviews, assignments and surrenders
- monitoring of First Nation suspense accounts as it relates to surface tenure
- training and working together with First Nations and industry regarding surface and subsurface tenure
- registering contracts and other instruments into the Indian Lands Registry System (ILRS)
Major projects
Responsible for leading projects that enhance IOGC's ability to serve First Nations including:
- drafting and submitting project plans and proposals
- managing schedules, budgets, and human resources
- engaging with First Nations and other stakeholders
- repairing and enhancing existing systems
Negotiations, subsurface contracts, and research
Responsible for negotiating and managing of subsurface contracts including:
Negotiations
Responsible for negotiating and managing of subsurface contracts, including:
- identifying, developing, and promoting disposition options with First Nations to promote and increase exploration and development of First Nations oil and gas resources
- assessing proposals by interested companies against IOGC's disposition policy
- assisting First Nations in reaching agreements with companies by providing negotiation and facilitation expertise to support the negotiation process
- providing information concerning subsurface leasing trends, sales prices and related policies to all interest stakeholders
- providing advice to Treaty Land Entitlement (TLE) First Nations, and working together with various federal and provincial government departments and industry to facilitate the implementation of the TLE process
Research
Responsible for:
- responding to queries regarding the legal title of First Nation lands as it pertains to oil and gas
- verification of the chain of title for First Nation lands both present and extinct, mineral and surface, status within the boundaries of the Reserve and its adjacent lands
- quantifying areas of potential business interest, reporting on chain of title evidence and confirming the options for the disposition of designated and federal lands
- verification of First Nation interests in support of land claim activity and litigation
Subsurface contracts
Responsible for managing the lifecycle of subsurface contracts and the issuance of all replacement contracts in support of the Treaty Land Entitlement (TLE) process, including:
- drafting and issuing subsurface contracts (subsurface leases, permits, disposal and injection leases) and amendments in accordance with negotiated terms and conditions and with federal government regulations
- verifying provincial and freehold mineral and surface dispositions and drafting and issuing all replacement contracts (subsurface leases, surface leases and right of ways) in support of the TLE process
- administration of subsurface contracts, monitoring regulatory and contractual compliance, monitoring and releasing moneys from First Nation Trust Suspense Accounts and coordinating remedial enforcement action for non-compliance issues on subsurface contracts
- providing advice and information to First Nations and Industry
Policy
Responsible for regulatory and policy development including:
- leading the development of the proposed Phase 2 Regulatory Amendment which includes Environment, Surface contracts, and continuous improvement provisions to the Regulations
- researching, providing assistance, and advising on strategic, program, and operational policies
- developing, engaging, and negotiating new provincial and federal agreements or Memorandum of Understanding (MOUs), and supporting their implementation
- assisting IOGC business units with the interpretation and implementation of Acts and Regulations
- supporting the charting and implementation of future direction of IOGC from an operational and regulatory perspective including frameworks for transfer and assertion of jurisdiction
Royalty
Responsible for managing the administration of First Nation oil and gas royalties include:
- ensuring accuracy and completeness of royalty data submissions and assessments
- managing eligible Gas Cost Allowance processing and deductions
- managing eligible trucking cost deductions audits
- engaging with and providing support to First Nations and industry on royalty-related enquiries
Site closure program
Responsible for:
- managing site closures on First Nation lands
- supporting and providing information on site closure processes to both First Nations and industry
IOGC also has the following internal services business units: Administrative Services, Financial Services, Human Resources, and Information Technology. These business units provide ongoing supports and internal deliverables.