Fact Sheet

Alberta’s First Nations Consultation Policy on Land Management and Resource Development
Through the Aboriginal Policy Framework released in 2000, Alberta committed to consult with First Nations when land management and resource development decisions may infringe their existing treaty or other constitutional rights.
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Alberta Municipal Grants
In 2006-07, Alberta municipalities will receive more than $1 billion in government funding through a variety of grant programs.
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Alberta’s Oil Sands
Under anticipated economic conditions and using current technology, Alberta has about 176 billion barrels (bbls) of proven oil reserves (174 billion bbls of crude bitumen, 1.6 billion bbls of crude oil).
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Capital Planning
Expanding and improving Alberta’s infrastructure is a top priority for government. It is also a top priority for Albertans, who have identified it as No. 3 on a list of priorities, after healthcare and education.
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Caribou Management
New conservation actions are being put in place to improve the survival of woodland caribou in Alberta. Successful management of the “threatened” caribou will connect conservation actions to land management efforts across the provincial range for the species.
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Crude Bitumen Reserves
The total in situ and mineable remaining established reserves are 27.7 billion m3 (174 billion barrels), similar to 2002. To date, only 2 per cent of the initial established crude bitumen reserve has been produced.
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Facts on Air Quality in Alberta’s Oil Sands Areas
Alberta Environment is responsible for air policy and legislation. Air quality in our province must meet all national, provincial and regional guidelines.
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Facts on Climate Change in Alberta’s Oil Sands Areas
In 2002, the province released its comprehensive plan, “Albertans and Climate Change: Taking Action”.
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Facts on Land Reclamation in Alberta’s Oil Sands Areas
All companies that disturb land in Alberta must reclaim it. The minimum reclamation requirement for oil sands mines is equivalent land capability, or assurance the disturbed land supports a range of activities similar to its previous use.
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Facts on Oil
Crude oil is a naturally occurring substance found trapped in certain rocks below the earth's crust. It is a dark, sticky liquid that is classed as a hydrocarbon.
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First Nations and Métis Constitutionally Protected Rights
Provincial Crown lands are developed in a manner that recognizes Aboriginal peoples’ unique, constitutionally protected rights.
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Facts on Water Management in Alberta’s Oil Sands Areas
Water use in the oil sands area is regulated through a system of licensing and monitoring.
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Forest Management
The forest industry in Alberta holds the rights to harvest timber on the majority of the commercially usable forestlands in northern Alberta. Approximately 40% of the lands within the Green Area are allocated to timber production, and contribute to the Annual Allowable Cut (AAC).
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Fort McMurray Infrastructure and Municipal Support
The province oversees the design, construction and maintenance of provincial highways, provides infrastructure support to urban and rural municipalities, and provides education, post-secondary and health facility infrastructure funding.
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Highway Infrastructure for the Cold Lake, Fort McMurray and Peace River Regions
The province has committed more than $13 billion over three years to capital projects. The capital projects include the design, construction and maintenance of provincial highways in the Cold Lake, Fort McMurray and Peace River regions.
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Municipal Infrastructure Funding for the Cold Lake, Fort McMurray and Peace River Regions
The province has committed more than $13 billion over three years to capital projects, including infrastructure support to urban and rural municipalities.
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Oil Sands Recorded History
2006: Petro-Canada announces plans to build an oil sands upgrading facility for the Fort Hills oil sands project in Sturgeon County, about 40 kilometres northeast of Edmonton.
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Oil Sands Royalties
Prior to a project’s “payout” (the point at which the developer has recovered all allowed costs plus a return allowance) the applicable royalty is 1 per cent of the project's gross revenue.
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Oil Sands Tenure
The Crown owns 81 per cent of the province's mineral rights in Alberta. The remaining 19 percent are ‘freehold’ mineral rights owned by individuals and companies and other Crown land held by the federal government on behalf of First Nations or in national parks.
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Traditional Use Studies
Traditional Use Studies (TUS) use a combination of documentary records and the traditional knowledge of Elders to identify First Nations’ sites of cultural, historical and spiritual importance.
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Water Use by Alberta’s Oil and Gas Industry
The oil and gas industry’s use of water is regulated through a system of licensing and monitoring in accordance with the Water Act; the 2006 Water Conservation & Allocation Policy and Guidelines for Oilfield Injection; Alberta Environment; and the Alberta Energy and Utility Board regulations.
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Wetland Management
All water bodies in Alberta, whether on public or private land, are the property of the Crown. Disturbances to any water body, including wetlands, require that an approval under the Water Act be obtained from Alberta Environment before any work begins.
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Wildlife Management
Few places in the world have as great a diversity of wildlife as Alberta. The province boasts 515 species that are traditionally considered wildlife, including 10 species of amphibians, 95 mammals, 402 birds and 8 reptiles. British Columbia is the only province with a greater number of mammals. Modern wildlife management includes the conservation of plants as well.
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Maps

The following maps are available for download in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format.
These are all large format maps (36 x 39 in) and may take considerable time to download. They can be printed on 8.5 x 11 paper.
Bedrock Geology (5MB)
Conventional Oil, Oil Sands and Gas Wells and Associated Facilities (6.5MB)
Cumulative Bitumen Production (7.5MB)
Generalized Bitumen Thickness in Oil Sands Areas (5MB)
Oil Sands Agreements (5MB)
Parks and Protected Areas (5MB)
Athabasca Oil Sands Area - Conventional Oil, Oil Sands and Gas Wells and Associated Facilities (7MB)
Athabasca Oil Sands Area – Oil Sands Agreements (5MB)
Cold Lake Oil Sands Area – Conventional Oil, Oil Sands and Gas Wells and Associated Facilities (3.5MB)
Cold Lake Oil Sands Area – Oil Sands Agreements (2MB)
First Nations and Métis Community (5MB)
Peace River Oil Sands Area – Conventional Oil, Oil Sands and Gas Wells and Associated Facilities (3MB)
Peace River Oil Sands Area – Oil Sands Agreements (3MB)